Okehampton Columbines
Ladies 10
Bude ladies seconds 1
THE scoreline might indicate that Okehampton thoroughly trounced Bude but Bude played a spirited game which kept the Columbines on their toes right to the end.
The game started fairly evenly with both teams testing each other. Jo Moppett scored Oke's first goal but Bude soon equalised.
Bude's elation was soon deflated when Jo Moppett seized a long pass up Okehampton's left wing; her fast run, supported by Lesley Bingham, resulted in Oke to reply within two minutes of the equaliser.
The game was dominated by play on Okehampton's left wing which gave Kim Davey space on the right which was used to devastating effect.
A third goal from Okehampton took the scoreline to 3-1 at half time.
In the second half Okehampton really settled into their stride. They had the space and control to try different approaches.
Player of the match Lesley Bingham exemplified the intelligent and determined play used by Okehampton; skilled stick-work, short sharp passes to supporting team mates and the determination to seize every ball was combined with a free criss-crossing of the pitch which made it hard for the less experienced Bude team to control.
Lesley Bigham, Jo Moppett and Kim Davey each scored three. Hard strikes at goal from the edge of the circle were the least successful. Superb crosses from Kim, passes around the circle which wrong-footed the excellent Bude goalie and the final touches over the goal line were successful.
The fierce attacks were well supported by Sarah Toms, who snatched a goal, Alex Collins, Viv Weatherington and Amanda Sims. Joey Drake and Jane Jones showed their usual mastery in controlling the centre field, leading on defensive short corners and on attacking short corners.
n Okehampton ladies are at home this week against Plym Valley ladies seconds, starting at 2.30pm.