Essanians 4

Tavistock Ladies 2

THIS friendly hockey match opened with both teams looking to make a dramatic impact.

Tavistock were quick to pick up key players from the opposition and mark them out of the game. Laura Armstrong and Steph Mills worked well together on the right and early calls from Sue Cork allowed numerous shots at the keeper.

The midfield play of Susannah Harland, Lisa Butler, Jill Court and Sandra Collar blocked out any major attack and Court and Butler made timely interceptions.

Court defended well, preventing the ball from entering the D. Fiona Dunn and Babs Horton were able to tie up loose ends at the 25-yard line area and prevent dominant players from entering the D.

At one point in the first half goalkeeper Rebecca Creasy was left with a one-on-one situation with the opposition?s forward striker. Creasy deflected the ball without any panic or mishap. She read the opposition well and was able to gauge from which angle the shot was coming.

Armstrong and Butler continued to battle well and coupled with Harland and Mills, made good passes through using triangles on the pitch. Armstrong won the ball from the opposition and drove it up the pitch where she hit an excellent ball into the D, which allowed Emma Bowden to sneak it past the keeper.

The second half showed better team play from Tavistock due to Armstrong, Mills, Harland, Dunn and Butler marking up on the halfway line.

It seemed impossible for the opposition to break through, but they did and equalised as the ball just trickled over the back line. They scored again to make it 2-1.

Tavistock did not give up. Armstrong, Butler, Bowden and Mills passed the ball from one to another allowing Butler to drive into the D and slot the ball past the keeper.

At 2-2 Tavistock were hopeful they could keep the match at a draw but two good goals from the opposition left the final score at 4-2 to Essanians.

Player of the match: Lisa Butler.

This week Tavistock are home at 12.30pm to Mannamead 2 in their penultimate league match.

Tavistock : Rebecca Creasy, Fiona Dunn (captain), Babs Horton, Jill Court, Sandra Collar, Susannah Harland, Lisa Butler, Steph Mills, Laura Armstrong, Emma Bowden, Sue Cork, Becky Hutton.