Okeh'pton Columbines Ladies Hockey Club 2
Dart Ladies 0
OKEHAMPTON were against the unbeaten Dart team in this first league hockey match of the second half of the season.
Okehampton leapt into action, dominating the play and Dart struggled to get their balance. In the first few minutes Okehampton were close to scoring with passes down the left wing followed by a dangerous cross and hot work in the circle.
Dart managed to get some equilibrium and played hard hockey with several dangerous attacks. Okehampton, by keeping up their steady team play and confident flexibility — with wings swapping sides and with inners —continued to dominate.
This paid off when Sarah Jones set up Jo Moppett who used a reverse stick strike to score. This buoyed up Okehampton who maintained their pressure.
Viv Weatherington worked extremely hard the whole match, bolstering defence and making tactical runs that confused Dart and gave Okehampton space to manoeuvre.
After half-time Dart came back equally fiery and gave Okehampton some uncomfortable moments. Excellent defence by left back Sandy Douglas was only matched by the athletics of Sophie Whiteley in goal to keep out Dart.
A second set-up by Sarah Jones gave Alex Collins the chance on the rebound to put Okehampton two up. The steady and quality play of Sarah Jones, Jane Jones, Carol Taylor, Louise Weller (in her debut game) and Jenny Humphrey as halves constantly frustrated Dart.
Okehampton played an excellent team game that led to a well deserved win leaving them well placed to establish themselves more comfortably in this league.