Womens League Football
The trip from Hamble to Aldershot is usually a straightforward hour up the M3, but motorway closures, diversions and poor weather turned it into a long and testing hour-and-forty-minute journey.
Preparation wasn’t much kinder. Solent arrived with a bare eleven due to work commitments, one player ended up at the wrong ground, and three players only just made kick-off.
Despite the disruption, the game started brightly. Aldershot looked to use their youth and energy, making regular drives down both wings, but Solent stayed organised early on. An injury midway through the first half reduced Solent to ten players, though the team battled on well. At half-time, Aldershot held a 2–0 lead.
A third goal early in the second half made the task even harder, but Solent showed real character and pulled one back through Carrie, scoring her first goal since stepping up from Division 6.
Another injury then forced Solent down to nine players, and a couple of audacious efforts from Aldershot eventually put the game beyond reach.
Credit where it’s due — well done to the Aldershot management for getting the game on when so many fixtures were called off, and to their supporters for braving the conditions to back their team.
For all their bluster, Aldershot perhaps should have done more given the circumstances. Not many games see you concede five and still come away feeling happy with the performance, but this was one of them. Solent showed real resilience and spirit and will look forward to the rematch in two weeks’ time — hopefully with a full squad available.
