Outnumbered ladies perform in cup and league

The match began and RUMS won an early corner as IC settled into the game. Their onslaught created a couple of chances but Vivian collected the ball easily on all accounts, helped by a makeshift backline of Emma, Yoke, Laura and Cheryl. IC began to push back with Dehydys and Rita leading the charge in midfield. Barbara and Steph provided width down the sides and with Chin and Pav upfront it looked as if IC were due a goal any time. However, RUMS played in a Spartan-like phalanx with the entire team charging after whichever IC player had the ball. While IC was having a frustrating first half, the referee was having a busy one, calling offences against various hairclips and bobby pins. He stopped play a couple of times and requested various IC players to take out the felonious hair accessories, finally announcing the next player found with a hair clip would be given a yellow card.

The second half started and IC won an early corner this time around. Chances bountiful but still the ball refused to go into the back of the RUMS net. RUMS had a few breaks but were unable to get past the IC backline. IC finally took the lead fifteen minutes into the second half. 

They had won a corner which Rita took, passing it short to Laura who passed it back to Rita who, from the edge of the box on the backline, hit a stunner of a strike into the back of the net from an angle that can only be described as near zero. Karen came on in Barbara’s place to help IC defend their slender lead to prevent the match from going into extra time (else they pay the taxi driver a small fortune for waiting). IC are through to the quarter finals to face UCL in the Women’s Challenge Cup.

Wednesday came around and saw IC taking seven lovely ladies down to Portsmouth to play the last match of the BUSA league season. With Queen Mary sitting comfortable at the top of the league, IC was in battle with the University of Portsmouth and Brunel for second place, who were just a point each behind. Morale was running low until the IC players were told that Portsmouth could only field ten players themselves. Fuelled by a desperate hope, IC played a 3-3 formation (true story) with one attacker and five natural defenders. Needless to say it was a very defensive match. 

It started off with Steph taking the ball down the right wing but she went down to the ground after a Portsmouth player five times her size gave her a hefty shove. Unfortunately, no free kick was given but Steph ended up getting her beef on. Skipper Emma and Pav dribbled past the Portsmouth players effortlessly but due to the lack of strikers up front, and the fact that the Portsmouth goalie was almost as good as Emily (IC goalie), chances were difficult. Laura, Kate and Cheryl held the line in the back, closing down plays Portsmouth tried to set up. It turned out to be easier than expected when trying to mark two opposition players simultaneously. 

After a string of IC attacks, painful tackles and Portsmouth ballerina-like foul throw-ins, Portsmouth had their chance as Emily was taken down and panic and confusion was widespread in the IC box. They did however, fluff it, and Kate and Laura threw themselves in the melee and managed to clear it. A minute from full time, IC had their best chance; Emma took the ball from the IC half down the left wing all the way into the Portsmouth box on her own. The Portsmouth goalie slipped and was on the ground leaving their goal wide open this time. Emma crossed it in across the face of the empty goal, but Pav was unfortunately unable to reach it in time. 

IC ended the match on a high because Brunel had lost their deciding match and so IC Women’s finish second in their BUSA league, and are through to the play in the plate!