THE GREAT Notley Rams picked up another three League Cup group stage points when they overcame the Torquespeed Storm on Notley Green this Sunday.
In claggy conditions, the team had to dig deep in order to breakdown a Storm side which was set for the defensive, as the visitors looked to pick up their first points of the season.
Rams lined up with Jonathan Stoneman in goal, a back two of Harvey Ricci and Ben Rodley, a midfield three of Henry Wright, James O'Reilly and Olivia Hales, while Jamie McNeilly was given free licence to maraud up front.
But despite all of the best efforts of the home side, the Storm remained resolute, and after substitutes George Morris, Emma Root, Tom McInerney and Matthew Norris all entered the fray halfway through the first half, there was still no joy for the Rams' offensive line despite knocking on the Storm door on a number of occasions.
The breakthrough came after half time once Stoneman and McNeilly had switched between the sticks.
Some aggressive work from Olivia Hales in the area caused concern for the Storm back three, and the ball fell to Stoneman who had ghosted into the box from midfield. With the goal at his mercy he made no mistake and an air of relief descended across Notley Green.
Going forward in the first half the Storm had developed a number of breakaway attacks, but in the second half these squalls were few and infrequent, and the Rams hammered away at the visitors' back line.
Morris and Ricci were resolute whenever the ball came to them, while Norris had been pushed forward and his sprightly step caused the Torquespeed side many a worry, no more so than when he fired a shot which the Storm keeper could only spill to the side allowing O'Reilly to hammer home from point blank range.
Two goals to the good, the passing game which has been at the top of the order for the past few training session drills, came to the fore and the Rams looked likely to extend their lead, particularly when Emma Root found herself in space in the box but pulled the shot narrowly wide of the upright.
The final whistle saw the Rams comfortable winners, but the Storm deserve credit for their efforts on the heavy pitch, and there was enough on show during this December clash to suggest that both teams have a positive future.
Rams boss John Stoneman said: "In our first game of the season you could count the number of passes we completed on the legs of a peg-leg sailor. This time around you would need a centipede."
