Continuing that winning streak!

Blackheath 3’s found themselves with a very tired and early start at a cold and windy Gravesend Rugby Club for the second week running with Meopham Ladies 2’s the opposition. Despite their position at the foot of the table, Meopham started strongly and had a stuttering Blackheath pinned back in their own half for the majority of the first 15 minutes. Heath were still metaphorically in the cold and inhospitable changing room and the pressure led to a soft goal for the hosts and left Blackheath needing to pick up their heads and their game.
Heath did exactly that and the equaliser came from a trademark Sue Masters-Bright short corner strike slammed home from the top of the D following a spell of intense Blackheath pressure. Shortly afterwards, Heath were 2-1 up and back in control after some slick build up play led to a chance for Nicole Jackson which bounced into the corner of the goal. Despite some thrilling end to end play before half time, the score remained narrowly in Blackheath’s favour thanks to some outstanding tackling from well-deserved Man of the Match Annette Golding.
Following an in depth strategic team talk from Captain Socks, the second half commenced at the same frantic pace and the fitness of both teams was being tested. Meopham found the back of the net first to make it 2-2 with a lucky touch and it was all to play for with a quarter of the match remaining. The game was poised on a knife edge with the spectators barely able to contain their excitement and the result too close to call. The opposition hadn’t accounted for the quick wittedness and lightening reactions of Carmel Longley however, as she pounced on a loose ball in the D to coolly slot home the winner through a gap at the near post no wider than the swelling on Sue’s elbow.
There was still a good 10 nervous minutes to play and Meopham exploited some tired Heath midfield legs to go all out for the equaliser with break after break. The Heath defence put on a determined face and held firm, repelling wave after wave of green shirts and praying for the final whistle. Time was nearly up but in a final moment of drama and controversy, Danni Rooney was left covered in blood after being the unfortunate victim of a vicious attack by a rogue section of the pitch for which it should probably have been shown a red card. Nonetheless, Heath held on to secure the full 3 points and the dizzy heights of third in the table.

Report written by Nicole