It was cold. It was wet. It was the furthest away day the girls were going to have to travel. They could be forgiven for feeling a bit sluggish given the circumstances.

It was Oxted too. At senior level this is a daunting team to play against, so the coaches were a little unsure, even if the girls weren't.

Once we arrived and had gathered like penguins in a huddle, with some early tactical discussion on how to set out, focus on 70% press and player to player marking in our own half. Ball distribution to be good and quick. This should be enough to feel out the first half, and it was.

Against the wind, slightly uphill and with rain in their eyes, the Ashford girls started brightly. Possession was good and we took the game to Oxted. Winning the first short corner we had decided not to overcomplicate, and they certainly didn't. Injection from Holly, trap and shoot.....BANG. 1-0. Maya. Was there a glint in Maya's eye?

Possession remained strong and we found good space in their half, Zu was having fun, and receiving the ball was able to take a mazy route into the D and.... SMACK. 2-0.

The score at this point didn't mean we were entirely on top. They had astute coaches and some talented girls. Their CF finding success by ghosting through our backline and often found herself in possession with just Amber in goal to beat. A couple of misses, but she did find success and we were 2-1 to the good.

Maya obviously decided she didn't want to share the match ball, and duly restored our two goal lead. BOOM!

On the sidelines, Woody, Adam and I were enjoying some good hockey from our team, but were acutely aware of this danger from their probing CF. Can we just make it to half time with our lead?

No! That marauding attack from Oxted managed to get the better of us again. 3-2 into the break.

The half time talk was simple. Stretch the field a bit more, and play their striker out of the game. Gretel was given the task of shadowing her, and my word, did she deliver. That striker didn't get a single touch in the second half. Not one.

In addition, the distribution got even better! Thank you backline. The attack became a surfers paradise as wave after wave pressured the Oxted team deep into their own half. The result became inevitable, and Maya was on fire. Bookending a brilliant sweeping team goal, that started in defence, sending Bronwyn racing off down the left, to spin her defender and shoot the ball to Rosalind who didn't ask permission. WALLOP.

Either side of which, Maya extended her glut of goals with two more. At this point, the score truly told the story.

Every player ran their socks off, beating the cold into submission. Discipline in position, communication and interplay got better and better.

The only disappointment being Rose's injury, confining her to the sidelines for the closing stages after great defensive contributions.

All the girls performed and Ashford go two from two in the league.

All smiles at the end, but none so wide as Maya's, who delivered a great start to her dad's birthday celebrations. Hopefully, she'll continue to on other Sundays as well.