The Diamonds proudly sponsored by Impact Retail, MJB Motors and CPS group welcomed runaway league leaders Whetstone to Weavers Park hoping to be the first team to inflict a defeat on them in the league this season.

The diamonds set up in a new formation of 3-4-1 looking to restrict the potent attack of their free scoring opponents while being set up for a counter attack. In the early stages Whetstone dominated territory but were struggling to break the pressure of the diamonds midfield with Lily S and Amelia preventing the opponents wide players getting on the ball and Bethan and Safia shielding the back three perfectly. Anything that did get through was being dealt with by Isla, Emily and Alara while Lexi B in goal was reading the game superbly and sweeping up when needed.

10 minutes in the Diamonds started to cause a threat of their own with lone striker Lexi U using her strength and power to upset the whetstone defenders while Amelia and Lily S were looking dangerous running from wide. This was going to be some game.

Violet, Anna and Lacey were introduced to keep the pressure on higher up the pitch and force a mistake from the whetstone defence who were looking shaky. The result was almost immediate when a corner won by anna was put into the box by Safia fell to Isla who smashed the ball into the top corner to give the Diamonds a much deserved lead. 1-0.

A minute later Ellie T who had come on for Safia split the Whetstone defence with a wonderful pass to find Amelia who hit a thunderbolt of a shot that came crashing off the bar. This woke up the league leaders who now realised that the Diamonds were not going to roll over in front of them. however the back three lead by the tenacious Emily were standing up to anything that whetstone could throw at them.

with a minute of the half to go Whetstone had a corner which was whipped in dangerously and a wonderful header looped into the top corner for an equaliser. 1-1
HT 1-1

At half time Lilly B replaced Isla at the back and the Diamonds were told to keep the pressure on their opposition and keep trying to play through the thirds.

The half started much like the first with Whetstone on the front foot and the diamonds digging in winning tackles and feeding the ball to Lexi U who was doing a great job holding the ball up and trying to bring others into the game. It was clear that whetstone had certainly upped their game and were trying to move the ball quicker but again they were being kept at bay.
With the wind having picked up the Diamonds were struggling to get out of their own half and only a wonderful save from Lexi B kept the scores level when she somehow managed to tip a long range shot over the bar.

The Diamonds were still causing a threat with Amelia, Isla and Lily S all having half chances but the final ball or finish was just missing, then midway through the half a misplaced cross from the whetstone winger caught everyone out and flew into the top corner to give Whetstone the lead.

The Diamonds threw everything at the league leaders to get an equaliser but they couldn't find a way through to get a result that they thoroughly deserved.
F-T 1-2
GOTG Emily

The diamonds today came up against a team who have played an age group up for the last 2 seasons and have won all 11 league games scoring 80 goals while conceding only 6. To push this opposition as close as they did shows just how far they have come since May last year when they played their first game.