The City first VIII began the new year looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Bristol City against a Horfield outfit returning to a much improved sportshall.

The opening exchanges were tight and controlled, with Ramzi looking the biggest threat, and City carving out the majority of the chances. In the event, Susan was first onto the scoreboard, landing a decent long shot, before turning provider to Ramzi's runner. Horfield pulled it back to 2-1 with a long shot of their own, but Zoe restored the two goal lead, showing her marker a clean pair of heels and netting off Ceri's pass. Some excellent post domination allowed Lee and Susan to follow with identical long shots to pull Cardiff 4 clear, but then a spell of sloppy play allowed Horfield back into it. Passes went astray and complacency allowed the score back to 5-3, but just before the half it was left to captain Susan to calm the nerves, sinking her hat-trick goal.

Half-time came and went in a blur of laces being tied up on shooting boots, as Cardiff began the second half on a mission. Ceri completed a well executed 'long shot after a switch', before Zoe got her second runner, and everyone else piled in with long shots. Horfield could do little to resist as consecutive attacks yielded goals for Lee, Susan, Ceri, Taff and Ramzi. A goal pulled back did little to stem the tide as the excellent rebounding provided a total conveyor-belt of posession. In the first half a lot of decent looking shots had fallen out regularly with Terry in particular being unlucky not to score, but the second half was a different matter. Ceri found Zoe for her hat-trick of runners, which was followed by Kristina's long shot in another well worked move for 5-15. Susan scored on our next attack, then after Taff intercepted the re-start, one pass up the court found Lee who nailed his shot too, possibly the fastest pair of goals we'll score all year.

With Cardiff oozing confidence, Kristina's runner and yet another long shot from Susan who barely missed all game took us out to 19-6, before someone finally spotted one of Midge's many free runs to the post and gave her the ball so she could get on the scoresheet too. One attack and about 8 shots later, a move involving rebounds for all four attackers culminated in a longshot for Taff finally dropping, and Ramzi rounded things off from the penalty spot, becoming the 4th City player to register a hat-trick.

A terrific second half onslaught finished 16-5 to Cardiff, and the game ended with a consolation for Horfield who had battled on to the end, bringing the final score to 22-8.

City will look back on a second half attacking performance as good as any we've produced this season. Horfield will probably regret their defensive dropping off tactics, but even they can't have expected such accuracy from the entire team. Most pleasing was the fact that for large periods of the game Cardiff's success was down to doing the simple things well. Passes were kept simple and accurate, shots taken were well chosen and unhurried, and the post was dominated to allow plentiful recycling. The unselfishness of the team play meant that everyone got on the scoreboard, and in the end, Horfield couldn't defend as a unit because they didn't know where the main threat was coming from next. Our next trick will have to be to repeat this kind of performance when under pressure in the game!

Thanks to Tony for reffing with a big smile as usual

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