The power of routine can never be underestimated, particularly for teenagers and young people, so the return of the ever-anticipated Sunday morning fixture was a welcome one for all!

Our team were delighted with the well prepared Blean pitch this weekend and were very grateful to Neil and Lauren for the extra work that they had put in on the previous day to ensure we had a good surface!

Our visitors, Thanet Colts, have had a tough season to date but we were familiar with the fact that they had plenty of spirit and that they would always do their best until the final whistle. They also have lots of very supportive parents who, once again, were a pleasure to welcome this weekend. Along with the parents there were siblings and one young man volunteered to assist the referee by running the line for the duration of the match. Credit to this young man and his knowledge of the game, he was excellent (as was referee Luke)!

To the action. Risers started very brightly and Ella M was quick to seize upon a loose clearance and open her account for the game. Lexi then had a raft of chances, minute after minute, but didn’t seem to be getting the ‘rub of the green’ and it looked as though it could turn out to be one of those days! Ella M added to her first goal within 10 minutes and then Risers were caught out by an excellent corner from Colts and this gave our team a reminder to focus and refer back to the hours spent in training with coaches Neil and Loz.

Our visitor’s reply was soon a distant memory, as was the thought that Lexi might not add to an already impressive season goal tally as the Risers machine stepped up a gear. Our shape was the most important difference between the two teams and this led to a constant drive towards the target, time and time again.

The final score was Rising Stars 10 - 1 Thanet Colts with Lexi scoring 5, Ella M 4 and Izzie 1.

Next week we travel to Maidstone to take on Castle Colts.

Carl.