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Nov. 8th, 2009 06:01 pmWent to see Hawks Ladies play overseas today.
The girls were away to Shanklin in the FA Women's Cup first round. As I waited in the Wightlink terminal the two minutes' silence was introduced over the public address system as a passenger announcement, and impeccably observed. From Ryde it was on to one of the Island's delightful two-ex-London-Underground carriage trains to Lake station, a ten minute walk from the ground.
Nearly all of the Isle of Wight representative women's team play for Shanklin Ladies, so I wondered if they'd remember me from Åland; several of them said hello. The clubhouse was pleasant and friendly with Shepherd Neame beers and first class burgers on offer, but around the pitch there was nowhere to sit and no covered area. Alas, it rained all through the first half. Making notes for my match report was tricky as, after just seconds of exposure, large sections of the page of my pad I was using became so wet that they were impossible to write on.
Shanklin, one league below us, were undefeated this season so we knew they'd give us a match. Defensive midfielder Emma Webb, who'd been one of the stars of the Island Games, did a good job of resisting our girls, but the Hawks dominated and Chloe scored twice to see us through to the next round. And in the second half the weather was dry, though still pretty chilly.
Michael had said before the game that I'd easily be able to catch a lift back to Portsmouth via the car ferry, as there were several cars with plenty of room in. Unfortunately, none of the girls driving those cars were appraised of the situation and they all bombed off as soon as they'd had a few desultory nibbles. Dick saved me from a solitary hoof back to the station, inviting me to squeeze into his car with Lauren, Becki and Stacie. All the others were on the same ferry as us, so they hadn't gained anything by shooting off early.
We all had a convivial chat on the boat. Lots of the girls were full of X Factor. I asked who they thought would go out tonight and they chorused "THEM TWINS!"
The girls were away to Shanklin in the FA Women's Cup first round. As I waited in the Wightlink terminal the two minutes' silence was introduced over the public address system as a passenger announcement, and impeccably observed. From Ryde it was on to one of the Island's delightful two-ex-London-Underground carriage trains to Lake station, a ten minute walk from the ground.
Nearly all of the Isle of Wight representative women's team play for Shanklin Ladies, so I wondered if they'd remember me from Åland; several of them said hello. The clubhouse was pleasant and friendly with Shepherd Neame beers and first class burgers on offer, but around the pitch there was nowhere to sit and no covered area. Alas, it rained all through the first half. Making notes for my match report was tricky as, after just seconds of exposure, large sections of the page of my pad I was using became so wet that they were impossible to write on.
Shanklin, one league below us, were undefeated this season so we knew they'd give us a match. Defensive midfielder Emma Webb, who'd been one of the stars of the Island Games, did a good job of resisting our girls, but the Hawks dominated and Chloe scored twice to see us through to the next round. And in the second half the weather was dry, though still pretty chilly.
Michael had said before the game that I'd easily be able to catch a lift back to Portsmouth via the car ferry, as there were several cars with plenty of room in. Unfortunately, none of the girls driving those cars were appraised of the situation and they all bombed off as soon as they'd had a few desultory nibbles. Dick saved me from a solitary hoof back to the station, inviting me to squeeze into his car with Lauren, Becki and Stacie. All the others were on the same ferry as us, so they hadn't gained anything by shooting off early.
We all had a convivial chat on the boat. Lots of the girls were full of X Factor. I asked who they thought would go out tonight and they chorused "THEM TWINS!"
