CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR DUCKLINGTON
IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER!!

The wind howled and the rain lashed down ……for the warm up. Then blue skies bathed the pitch in a wintry glow for the start of the game ..much to the relief of the 30 strong crowd.

Ducklington started well with accurate through balls from skipper Katy Weaving, Katy Hoare and Holly Keylock feeding Francis Hook , Laura Jones and Lauren Major up front.

With only three minutes gone Laura Jones netted the first with a neat touch over the line dodging around the diving Summertown keeper.1-0

The Ducklington defence maintained a succession of deliveries to the forwards and on the seventh minute Holly Keylock struck a shot from just inside her own half as a test to the visiting keeper, only narrowly falling wide of the target.

In the eleventh minute a nimble turn by Lauren Major created space for herself and drew a spectacular save from Catlin Jennings, Summertown's keeper.

A minute later and it was Sophie Pym’s turn but this time the ball skimmed left of the goal. Katy Hoare , Holly Keylock and Katy Weaving scrapped for every loose ball with a dogged determination and with fourteen minutes gone they sent another delivery through to Laura Jones who laid it off to Ella Butler whose cross in turn to Sophie Pymm was inspired, only for Sophie’s shot to pull out another top draw save from the visiting keeper.

This was followed within a minute by a shot from Ella Butler. Then in the seventeenth minute Laura Jones took delivery of another pin point cross and slotted the ball into the back of the net for her brace.2-0

The action had been all in the Summertown area, then a Summertown attack down the right wing in the twenty fourth minute was disarmed by Emily Gee who threaded the ball through to Katy Hoare for another Ducklington attack, Katy drove the ball into the path of Sophie Pym who beat the keeper to take the tally to 3-0 on the stroke of half time.

Undeterred Summertown took the game to Ducklington in the opening moments of the second half, testing Viv Hughes in the Ducklington goal but their two attempts on target were ably dealt with.

Five minutes gone and Lauren Major, Ella Butler and Sophie Pymm were on the rampage again. This time Sophie’s shot was saved, then following a deflection Sophie shot again and again was denied by the impressive keeper.

A minute later and a long cross from Lauren found Sophie but this time, under pressure from the Summertown defence, the ensuing shot was wide of the mark. Seven minutes gone and it was Ella Butlers turn to see her shot saved.

Then a minute later Sophie passed to Ella who set up Lauren Major for Ducklingtons fourth.4-0

Riding high from her hat trick the previous week Ella Butler maintained the pressure with another two saved shots on target in the twelfth and fourteenth minutes and a pitch length run in the thirteenth minute culminating in a cross to Sophie Pymm only for Sophie to again be denied by the Keeper.

On the quarter of an hour mark Lauren Major shot into the hands of the Summertown keeper then recovered ground to defend the resultant counterattack at the opposite end of the pitch.

Eighteen minutes gone and Sophie Pymm was again denied by the keeper, as was Ella Butler a minute later.

With five minutes of the half remaining Laura Jones scored her hat trick with a blistering shot from the edge of the area leaving the Summertown keeper with no chance.5-0

Two minutes to go and Sophie Pymm picked up a rebounded shot off the woodwork ( well rigid plastic) from Lauren Major to drill home Ducklingtons sixth. 6-0

Then in the dying moments of the match Laura Jones bagged her fourth to take Ducklington to an historic seven goal victory as the final whistle sounded the end of the game.7-0

Laura Jones picked up the player of the match award with four goals under her belt (it’s a good job she’s not on a bonus scheme….or it could be an expensive day for someone!)

It had been an excellent all round and comprehensive performance by Ducklington and a good spirited encounter.