Friendly

Okehampton Columbines Ladies 4

Paignton Ladies 4

A FRIENDLY match away at Paignton was a good way to start the second half of the hockey season especially as the last league match was in November.

Okehampton Ladies, relaxed after the Christmas break, took a little time to settle down and a loose ball to the edge of the circle was quickly picked up by Paignton's centre forward for the first goal of the match.

As everyone warmed up in the freezing conditions Okehampton settled down to play some good hockey, particularly Viv Weatherington who demonstrated very free flowing and flexible play.

Jo Moppett, her first game after breaking her arm, took the ball through to equalise and followed this up with another strike that soared to the top right of the net to put the score at 2-1 at half time.

Paignton demonstrated some very effective through passing and set pieces that left Okehampton struggling at times. This paid off when a long corner from the right went to the top of the circle and was passed swiftly to the left wing hovering on the post to tap it in.

Several short corners were foiled by the steady play of Rachel Hammett at left back who blocked them on the goal line. Most of Paignton's attacks came from their right side and it needed all the excellent stick work of Jane Jones at left half and effective teamwork of Jane, Sarah Jones, Carol Taylor and Rachel Hammett to keep Paignton at bay.

Captain Jenny Humphrey, making her debut as goalie for the first team, also worked well to stop several strikes but all were wrong-footed by the goal hanging centre forward who got Paignton's third.

Okehampton came back with a classic attacking piece, which was completed by a pass into the circle from Jo Moppett to Sarah Jones; Jones pushed it to Alex Collins, who scored to take the score to three all.

Jo Moppett then followed this up with a lovely run around several players and the goalie to caress the ball over the line having left all defence floundering behind her.

No doubt spurred on by this example a Paignton player took the ball through in a solo run from the halfway line, weaved past all defence to take the score to its final position of four all.

l Okehampton play their next match in the league away to Mannamead II at Plymouth on Saturday.