Round 1, v Brunswick City, away

Football seasons rarely start more emphatically than with an 8-1 victory! So our opposition, Brunswick City, will be feeling mightily pleased with themselves. As for us Bras? Well, we’re disappointed, but we’re keeping a stiff upper lip, thanks for asking.

I won’t pretend I didn’t have higher hopes for the match. In fact, casting an eye among the troops as we warmed up in West Brunswick, I felt we were a team capable of troubling the best in our division, even though (or, perhaps, precisely because) I had no idea what the other teams in our division were (and are) like.

Turns out City are a team who would not be out of place in Div 2, let alone Metro, our new division (we’ve swapped divisions with the Zebras’ other women’s team). Sure, they aren’t as attractive as us —Oh, the way the autumn sun caught our glistening flanks just so— but they are skilled, fit, strong and they don’t mind putting the shoulder into you. It’s still a part of our game we haven’t yet come to terms with (“I say! Easy on the argy bargy, ol' girl!”), let alone mastered, so we might dispense with training this week for a video night. Rocky III followed by Fight Club should do it.

As good as City are, however, we weren’t at our best today —and not only because injuries to Jess and Kate P disturbed our early rhythm. Our combinations weren’t clicking (some players had only just met each other in the hour before the game), we weren’t match-savvy after the long off-season, and our lungs couldn’t cope with the pace of the game. In fact, during the second half we were a spent force and —there’s no nice way to put this— City had their way with us, turning a halftime lead of 3-1 into a comprehensive win. If we Bras hope to match it with City next time around we’ll have to get a lot fitter. So break out the leotards, leg warmers and headbands, Bras. It’s time to get physical.

The score aside, we did have our moments. Despite a shocking cold that had me sounding like Demi Moore after a big night out with Brendan Fevola, I looked rather smart in my new sneakers, the half-time oranges were sweet and juicy, and Sue’s daughter Rosie ran the line with efficiency and style in the first half. As for the action on the field, well, Marian bravely placed her head in the path of a booming, goal-bound shot (she probably suffered mild brain damage in doing so but, on the bright side, at least saved a certain goal), fullback Loz saved us from an even bigger beating with a number of vital interceptions, and we showed numerous glimpses of promise all over the field.

(A special mention for Sue who tried gamely even though she was tired and distracted after her son, Zak, was knocked off his bicycle in the wee hours of Saturday morning by a driver who didn’t stop. Fortunately, Zak escaped with a badly busted leg.)

We did also score a lovely team goal: having worked the ball down the left flank, Liz smartly found Emily (a late inclusion after a three-week layoff due to a hamstring injury), who in turn found Kate, who calmly found the corner of the net with a nice left foot strike. In fact, we dominated the period of the game after that goal (and up to halftime) and could well have had another.

But that other will have to wait until Sunday.

[Result: 8-1 loss. Goals - Kate A]