They say the best things come in three’s but this weekend results were coming in thick and fast for Crostyx. Sunday saw the return match for the U14 girls away at Old Loughts (but this time in the England Hockey League). With half term truly over, strong squads were expected to take the pitch and the game delivered everything anticipated.

Squad this week:

Anika Mayor (GK), Helene Standring, Saskia Murphy, Jessie Brown, Florence Unwin, Phoebe Petyt, Clara Johnson, Demi Evarschi, Imogen Murphy, Eve Boswell, Siena Crossley, Isabella Zurawska, Clemency Day-Fawcett, Ruby James (VC) and Lucy Leel (C).

As welcome sunshine started to break through and take the edge off a bitter day, Crostyx pushed back into a game with a noisy and mobile crowd supporting both sides, expending as much energy running the touchline to watch the end to end action. The purple girls, playing away in orange bibs and white socks, came out firing on all cylinders from the start. Early exchanges saw the girls testing OL with a return to their aerial game of last season but with OL wise to their tricks, Evarschi’s runs were closed down en masse and the OL defence was having no nonsense. OL responded hard when opportunity offered and throughout this game were masters of the wide ball, forcing edge tackles and position resets on the girls. Crostyx created some good chances but wayward finishes kept the game scoreless. OL had their chances too but a superb defence and on-point Mayor in goal ensured a level play through much of the first half.

The stalemate was broken when James and Johnson, through some classic defence interplay found Evarschi and Standring in midfield, who fought the ball up via Petyt and Imogen Murphy to find Leel, mobbed by an OL crowd, yet found her way through to the backboard - 1-0.

Half time arrived with no clear advantage to either side with all to play for. Nerves were growing in the crowd.

The second half resumed with the Purple girls returning to an aerial game to again test the OL defence to no avail. Speedy legs were like for like on both teams. A blocked OL attack saw Standring clear the lines and find Evarschi again on a wide run up to the baseline, she threaded in close to the D to find Leel to slot home - 2-0.

On the restart, as ever OL heads stayed high and waves of smart attack play were heaped onto Crostyx. James marshalled her defence troops with aplomb but it was a matter of time under the pressure. OL pulled one back - 2-1. More end to end play resumed with neither side gaining advantage. OL worked the midfield and let loose some great crosses across the Crostyx goal mouth that went begging with Mayor babysitting the ball into touch.

Styx third goal came through a spell of sustained open play. Brown, Petyt and Boswell battled in the midfield to work the ball intelligently upfield. An out of position Saskia Murphy cradled the ball up to find Leel, before dropping back pulling defenders with her. With an open space, Leel weaved in to net her third of the day. Crostyx dropped to a defensive stance expecting an onslaught. And so it came. Over and over OL attacked against a Styx defence holding firm. However a well placed Styx block unluckily angled the ball in to give OL a second. The game ran out through a further tense 10 minutes with a sea of purple in defence clearing to the lines. A final whistle blew, and at least half the supporters were relieved.

Another fantastic game from these two local sides, who are always entertaining.

Many thanks to Nick Gillett for sharing umpiring duties with OL.