Cleobury 2 City of Salford 3

(25:27, 25:23, 30:32, 26:24, 10:15)

Having being subjected to the multiple versions of "ay up" and "up up" for the second week on the trot, Cleobury were desperate to silence those vom-inducing calls and secure their first win of the season.

However, from their start of their home Prosport National Volleyball League game, Salford stormed to a 9:2 lead with Cleobury struggling to put in a decent pass.

After a time-out by coach Carl Brookes, Cleobury began to tidy up the first ball, giving setter Becky Brookes more options in front court. With some good hitting and blocking from the middles, Clare Jones and Lyndsey Rankin, Cleobury pulled the score back to 20:23. But the hard work and determination was not rewarded as Salford finished the set 25:27.

Set two was a close run affair with both teams working hard in defence. The awesome hitting power of Lyndsey Rankin proved too superior for the Salford backcourt and Cleobury saw the set out confidently, 25:23.

The third set highlighted just how evenly matched and determined both teams were. This 31 minute, point for point scrap, pushed both Cleobury and Salford to their physical limits. Becky Brookes continued to set consistently and intelligently, allowing the Cleobury offence to maximise on their hitting options. After what felt like hours, Salford managed to clinch the set 30:32.

Kill-hitting

Set four showed Cleobury at their best -- kill-hitting and defending hard. The Salford side was reduced to tipping and volleying everything over the net as the Cleobury defence proved too tough for the northerners. Eva Mort sprang into action at the net, while Lyndsey, Ellie and Sophie worked hard together in defence. A run of five serves from power hitter, Sam O'Connor, further allowed Cleobury to put the pressure onand secure the set 26:24.

The fifth set, once the Cleobury strong point, began well (as with the Thameside match) with Cleobury playing calmly and confidently, turning round at 8:5. A string of serving and hitting errors knocked Cleobury's confidence enough for Salford to take advantage. After a gruelling two hour and 16 minutes, Salford wrapped the match up, winning 10:15.

Player of the day went almost unanimously to captain Lynsdey Rankin for her outstanding hitting, blocking

and defence.