Exeter 2 - 1 Cambridge

Man of the Match: Susie Stott

It was an exciting day out for the twelve Blues on their jaunt to Exeter last Wednesday. The game started with Exeter demonstrating their attacking intent, smashing the ball into our bottom left hand corner from the pass back. A high, well-drilled Exeter press made it difficult for the back four. However, Cambridge stayed calm and gradually settled on the lively water based pitch. Carmen and Alex began to link up well down the left, with the forwards working hardto get on the end of the balls being smashed out of defence. Several Exeter penalty corners were weathered, with Emma making a particularly impressive string of saves on one to keep us in it. Cambridge began to impose themselves, with Therese finding space in the centre of midfield to facilitate our transfers. When Susie picked up a loose ball on the left of the D, she made no mistake, smashing it into the bottom right corner to put Cambridge ahead and the confidence to play out the rest of the half as the dominant side.

Coach Chris warned that Exeter would come out at the start of the second half, but unfortunately the Blues were unable the weather the storm. A mistake in outletting gave Exeter an overloaded counter attack, which they executedto equalise. This was followed up with a P-spot deflection from a penalty corner to put Exeter ahead. The Blues kept their heads and battled hard until the end, a cross from Mel on the right agonisingly flashed passed Slee's reverse stick within the last five minutes.

The final whistle left Cambridge disappointed that a sloppy start to the second half had cost them the result. Yet confidence was taken from the high level of hockey played, and from giving the BUCS South Premier League leaders (and title defenders) a good scare in their own back yardand. Bring on the return fixture.