Womens 1st XI vs Witham 1

Apprehension lingered as Romford Ladies geared up for their fourth game of the season.

On a cold, overcast day, the team entered the pungent-smelling changing rooms for the much-anticipated team talk. Captain Katie stressed the need to shut down the opposition’s key playmakers and warned of their quick turnarounds. Fully warmed up and ready, Romford took their positions. The whistle blew, and the fast tempo was a clear signal that they’d need to dig deep. Their moment came with a short corner: Katie's precise injection to Loz resulted in a clean strike over the keeper’s pad, slotting the ball into the left side of the goal.

At halftime, Katie addressed the team's flat forward line, while Ash called for more aggression, urging us to stop giving the opposition too much respect. Fired up, the team returned with renewed focus. Katie’s brilliant run down the left set Ellie up for a nice little one on one with the keeper, making it 2-0.

Witham ramped up the pressure, showing excellent teamwork through triangles and heavy shoving. They capitalised on a long run, slipping the ball past Romford’s defence to make it 2-1. Romford knew they had to dig deep. Minutes later, Ellie struck again, assisted by Sonata, restoring Romford’s two-goal lead. Another short corner saw Katie inject to Loz, who slipped the ball to Sonata for a cool, calm, and collected reverse flick.

The second half demonstrated greater composure and strategy. As the fast tempo eased, Romford better linked up their play. The team worked cohesively, pushing up to support the forwards while swiftly retreating to defend the D. The defensive line held strong throughout the half, staying organised and resilient under increasing pressure. Witham’s relentless attacks were met with well-timed tackles, and when they managed to break through, Lisa, Romford’s queen of the goal, made crucial saves to maintain the lead.

In the final 10 minutes, Romford switched to "warrior" mode, showing unwavering determination. A few small mistakes allowed Witham a short corner, which Romford defended, but a “stick tackling” call led to a second. Despite the final whistle, Witham’s last short corner had to be taken. Romford players sprinted back from the halfway line, determined to protect their goal. With grit and teamwork, they held firm, securing a well-earned victory.

Thanks to our wonderful 2s for their support, and congratulations to MOM Steph for her skill in taking 16s and finding gaps in the opposition’s press. Romford’s resilience and teamwork proved that when push comes to shove, they rise to the occasion.

MoM - Steph Allen