The home side found themselves on the back foot for the opening period as the changed team took time to settle and defenders Katy Harris, Jo Beare, Sue Strachan and Emily Rushmere had to battle hard and keeper Beckie Edmeades make some excellent saves to prevent Evergreens from taking an early lead.
Early nerves eventually settled and the Railway midfield started to put some good moves together and moved the focus of play to the other end of the pitch. With newcomer Lily Raven making some good solid blocks to keep the pressure in the Evergreens half Railway secured a short corner. The resulting shot from Germaine Wood was powerful and forced a superb save from the visitor’s keeper. Play again shifted to the other end of the pitch and it was the turn of Edmeades in the Railway goal to make a magnificent save, stretching at full length to stop the ball finding the top corner of the goal.
Railway once again took control of the midfield with Wood, Jo Pallant, Emma Julian and Hannah Atkin putting together a string of passes forcing 3 short corners in quick succession. However the home side were unable to convert.
Play continued at a fast past for the second half with both sides testing the others defence and the Railway midfield moving the ball around quickly and decisively. They came close to scoring when a long ball from Wood took Evergreens by surprise and Raven found herself just inches from being able to tap it across the line. This was a hard fought battle with some excellent performances from debutante’s Raven and Kara Atkin. Either team could have easily snatched victory with a single goal and Railway thoroughly deserved their point: 121 Driving Instruction PoM Emma Julian