Blue skies, ice on the puddles, a chill wind and a beautiful crisp winters morning welcomed the 20 strong crowd for the opening game after the Christmas break.

Time to work off the Christmas Turkey …or to test which side had already worked it off and gained match fitness!

The opening minutes saw attacks from both sides with the first shot on target coming from Ducklingtons, Ella Butler in the second minute. Marston countered, Viv Hughes saved and cleared the ball for Marston to attack again and shoot over the bar. Holly Keylock, Katy Hoare and Abbie Lloyd defended the next attack and set up Francis Hook for a shot in the fourth minute, this time into the hands of the Saints keeper.

Ducklington were looking strong and then ten minutes in and an uncharacteristic moment of confusion between Viv Hughes and Katy Hoare in the Ducklington goalmouth gifted the ball and resultant goal to Marston. 1-0.

Marston continued to pile on the pressure with a shot over the bar in the twelfth minute and a further attack in the fourteenth minute which was masterfully defended by Ella Butler, working hard at both ends of the pitch. With fifteen minutes gone Laura Jones corner from the right found Holly Keylock whose shot was deflected over allowing Laura a second chance from the left hand corner. This time Ducklington took delivery of the cross and Ella Butler drilled the ball home for the equaliser.1-1

Buoyed by their change in fortune, Ducklington took the game to the Saints. In the twenty first minute Lauren Majors cross found Sophie Pym whose shot was cleared by the Saints defence.

Then two minutes later and Ella Butler picked up the ball taking it from inside her own half and chancing a long range shot which was saved by the Saints keeper. A free kick at the end of the half fell to Katie Weaving whose shot was deflected wide by the Marston defence.

The half time result stood at 1-1 with Ducklington unlucky not to be taking in a one goal lead.

Two minutes into the second half and again Ducklington conceded a weak goal.2-1

Ducklington responded well and a minute later Emily Gees throw in picked out Lauren Major who passed to Sophie Pym. Sophie’s shot was parried by the keeper and was very nearly put to bed by Ella Butler whose shot skimmed wide of the mark.

The next ten minutes were evenly matched with some quality defending by Emily Gee, Katy Hoare and Katie Weaving. Twelve minutes of the half gone and Marston shot a blistering effort from the edge of the area drawing a diving save from Ducklingtons Viv Hughes.

Two minutes later and the Saints again attempted a long range shot and on this occasion the ball lobbed the keeper and sneaked in under the bar.3-1

A minute after the restart and Sophie Pym made a great individual run only for the shot to be cleared off the line by the Saints defence. The Saints retaliated and again took a shot from the edge of the Ducklington area and this found the back of the net, taking the Home side into a three goal lead with four minutes remaining. 4-1.

Marston’s corner in the twenty third minute drew a spectacular headed clearance from Lauren Major saving the visitors further blushes. The final whistle drew the game to an end with the score at 4-1.

It had been a good spirited encounter and both teams then took to the pitch for a twenty minute ‘Eleven a side’ friendly. This time the score remained at 0-0 as two teams of smiling faces left the pitch and headed back into the warm.

Ducklingtons player of the match was awarded to Katy Hoare for the second game in succession-well done Katy.