Cannock M1s 5 - 3 Redditch

   After what felt like a long Christmas break, Cannock resumed their league campaign with a huge game at the top of the table. Redditch would leap frog Cannock at the top if they beat them and won their game in hand. Cannock started well and had a shot on goal within the first minute but that turned out to be the only good things they did for the first 15 minutes. Even with good saves from Chewy, Cannock went 1-0 down. Cannock got back in the game thanks to a defection from Jawanda from a pin point reverse stick cross off skipper Fleet. 
   But again Cannock were sloppy in possession even sloppier in their marking and allowed Redditch the freedom of the pitch. Redditch went 2-1 up and it would of been 3-1 if it hadn’t been for a remarkable triple save from Chewy. This save turned out to be pivotal as Cannock lifted their game and scored an equaliser. Cannock started to play better and after lovely play from Lewis Michael nearly scored a third! As the half ended, Redditch restored their lead and at half time they deservedly lead 3-2. 
   Questions were asked at half time... Why were Cannock so sloppy? Where was the intensity? Where was the fight? The half time team talked worked wonders. Cannock started the second half excellently and after Widdowson showed the intensity and fight Cannock were after to win the ball in the middle of the park. Harris scored his first to make it 3-3. 
   Cannock continued to move the ball better, mark tighter and actually tackle! This lead to more possession and an abundance of chances. Cannock took the lead from a Jawanda strike after a lovely piece of play from youngster Sam Cattell. Cannock’s 5th goal came shorty after from a Harris drag flick. Cannock could of scored more but Fleet put a thunder blast just wide of the post ; Martin forgot how to stop the ball in the D ; Dippa defected a good chance wide.
Cannock won the game 5-3 to take a 5 point lead at the top of the table at the half way stage!

Cannock L3s 0 - 2 Stafford L1s 

Cannock L4s 7 - 0 Lichfield 

Cannock Ladies 4s travelled to Lichfield eager to get back to the pitch after the Christmas break. Cannock quickly set the tone for the game: strong passes and runs on goal, with the ball kept firmly in the opposition half. Early shots went wide of the mark but Cannock kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Hayley Jones' cross to Vicky Rhodes resulted in their first goal. The visitors were keen to press their advantage and scored a second goal when Mandy McColl's great pass was slotted home by Rachel Hughes.
   The floodgates had opened and Cannock kept scoring: Rachel Hughes drove into the D and scored from a powerful strike, and it wasn't long before Hayley Jones found the back of the net, following a short pass from Abby Rhodes. Cannock's fifth goal came when Michelle Woodward's initial strike was saved by the keeper, but Michelle scored from the rebound. Abby Rhodes struck the ball into the goal to make it 6-0 to Cannock before half time.
   Cannock continued to apply pressure into the second half with multiple shots on goal. Lichfield eventually managed to break, but a spectacular diving save by keeper Amy Hale kept Cannock's sheet clean. Cannock worked the ball back down the pitch, where Rachel Hughes' strike was batted away by the keeper, but only as far as Vicky Rhodes, who slotted the ball home. Towards the end of the match Lichfield raised their game and won a series of short corners, but were unable to make them count.

Final score: Lichfield 0-7 Cannock

Team: Amy Hale (GK), Emma Hunneyball (C), Julie Fisher, Tracy Craig, Tracey Lloyd-Smith, Hannah Jordan, Emma Thomas (POM, Opposition), Rachel Hughes (POM, team), Abby Rhodes, Hayley Jones, Michelle Woodward, Mandy McColl, Vicky Rhodes