You're The One

Chapter 25

May 2021 - Walton, Liverpool

"Al!" Katie called, making a run in between the two Everton centre backs. I tried to play a through ball, which I was normally able to do quite accurately, but it was cut off short.

"Fucks sake." I cursed, as Megan Finnigan cleared the ball. We were playing our second to last game of the season against Everton, and we needed to get all three points if we wanted to secure Champion's League football next season. We were sitting on 44 points, three ahead of Manchester United but with a safe goal difference of twenty seven more, so winning would all but secure Champion's League football the next season. However, at that moment, the game certainly wasn't leaning towards those three points.

Lia passed me the ball on the wing, and I attempted a usual interchange with Beth. It didn't work; my pass was yet again cut off, forcing me to run back down the pitch to defend.

I was not playing well, to be frank. None of my passes were connecting nor were any of my touches successful. Thankfully, Beth was able to put us ahead around twenty minutes into the game, and the rest of the team ended up playing well enough to turn us into the favourites.

Half time came around quickly, and Joe informed me that he would be taking me off. I was relieved at his decision, I knew I was probably the worst player on the pitch. "You're an amazing player Aleid, but I don't think today's your day."

I nodded in resigned agreement, very disappointed too with my performance. Ever since the whole Leah event a couple of weeks before, my mind had been so preoccupied with things other than football, and it had reflected onto the pitch as well. Jill noticed my slightly distressed state and attempted to console me, but I reassured her that I was fine, urging her to focus on winning the match and her own performance as she replaced me.

As I sat on the sidelines with the rest of the team, we watched in anticipation as the score line remained 1-0. Although we had our fair share of chances, our opposition was certainly exploiting us on the counter. Unfortunately, Everton were able to equalise in the later minutes of the game, with Finnigan scoring a stunner from outside the box. We were playing a draw, but there was a hunger coming from all the players on the pitch that I hoped would let us find the winner.

The seconds ticked by and everyone sitting in the dugout was on edge. Getting only one point from today would put a lot of additional pressure on our next match against Villa, and nobody wanted that. As we entered the period of stoppage time, our chances were slimming, until Katie was miraculously taken down in the box. Appeals came from the Arsenal on and off the pitch, me included, and the referee finally pointed towards the spot.

"Yes!" I cheered, but Carmen tapped me hard on the shoulder, reminding me to leave the celebrations until after we took the lead.

"Stop! You don't want to jinx it." She reprimanded in such a serious tone that made me laugh a little. Carmen was so superstitious, even more so than I was.

In what looked to be the final kick of the game, Kim was able to calmly slot in the penalty in the upper corner. Carmen broke out into cheers, and I joined her, overjoyed as the full time whistle rang out.

"Champion's League here we come!" I shouted, running down to the pitch to join the rest of the team for a talk from Joe.

He was congratulatory, although slightly critical of the stress we invoked on him. We were approaching his last match, since he was leaving the next season, so we all wanted to do as much as we could to let him leave on a positive note.