Old Southendian Ladies Threes 7 – 0 Maldon Threes
Goals: Lexie, Cris x4, Emily, Shireen
PoM: Zarah
What do you call a team that keeps its head, sticks together, finds new routes when the going gets tough and reaches the summit in spectacular style?
Answer: The Ladies Threes 17/10/2026

This week’s team talk had us roped together as mountain climbers, all working towards the same summit. The instructions were simple: keep the rope tight in defence, find the next foothold in attack and make every move count. We don’t need to be perfect; we just need to think, communicate and keep moving forward.
And what a climb it turned out to be!
The Ladies Threes made a flying start, with Lexie opening the scoring from a short corner inside the first ten minutes. Cris then found the net in open play before delivering an absolutely storming straight strike from the top of the D at another short corner. 3-0 up and the team was well on its way up the mountain.
But this wasn’t just a story of goals. At the back, the defence was beautifully drilled, working as a unit and keeping the rope tight throughout. Maldon found little room to manoeuvre, and the team’s organisation helped secure a thoroughly deserved clean sheet.
Further up the mountain, the forwards were busy finding new footholds. When something wasn’t working, they tried different approaches rather than continuing to charge up the same rocky path. The team is also becoming increasingly confident at recycling the ball around the back, retaining possession and creating new opportunities instead of forcing the climb. Every pass had a purpose, and the rewards were beginning to show.
The second half brought more of the same. Emily produced an elegant short-corner finish, her sweep from the left beautifully lifting then dropping perfectly to strike the backboard. Shireen then got in on the act, deflecting the ball home at the right post from another short corner.
Shireen had been making herself an absolute nightmare for the Maldon defenders in the D, winning countless short corners. If the aim was to make life uncomfortable for the opposition, mission very much accomplished!
Cris wasn’t finished either. Another powerful straight strike from a short corner brought up her hat-trick, before she added a fourth in open play. Four goals in one match is quite a summit to conquer, and Cris made it look rather straightforward!
Meanwhile, in central midfield, Zarah was a controlled powerhouse, providing strength, composure and purpose as the team worked together. Her Player of the Match award was thoroughly deserved. Together with Laura and Aimee (what a central spine!) she helped keep the team connected, making sure the climbers stayed roped together and continued moving in the right direction.
Seven goals, a clean sheet and plenty of evidence that the team is learning to adapt, communicate and find better routes forward. The summit was reached in style, but perhaps the most encouraging thing was how we got there: together, with everyone playing their part.
Every run has a reason. Every pass has a purpose. Every player matters.
And with the Ladies Threes, the view from the summit is looking pretty good!