OPM ladies’ 1

Okehampton ladies’ thirds 4

WHEN Okehampton ladies’ third team encountered Old Plymouth Mannameadian ladies earlier in the season, it was the latter who had won the clash emphatically with their dominant style of hockey.

Oke’s game plan was to chase every ball and put the OPM team under constant pressure. The team worked tirelessly, double teaming in defence to close down the strong OPM attackers. Oke seized every opportunity when they gained possession, moving the ball swiftly into attack and stretching the home defence.

The half time whistle found the teams at stalemate with neither side finding the back of the net.

The visitors, though, were gaining in confidence. Their young midfielders Lucy Wiseman, player of the match Amy Smith, and Zoe Curtis used their speed and fitness to push up into attack and also drop back to defend when needed.

Swift, accurate passing by Oke led to Viv Weatherington receiving the ball in the OPM circle – her shot rebounded off the goalie’s pads and was picked up by Zoe Curtis surging forward to score Oke’s first goal. Minutes later an OPM defender mistimed clearing a Zoe Curtis shot and it slipped into the goal to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

OPM retaliated using their strength to break through the Oke defence and scored from the resulting penalty corner.

The home team were determined to add to their tally but calculated passing from Oke moved the ball up the pitch and was rewarded with a penalty corner. OPM were left with only three players and a goalie to defend the penalty corner after breaking the line. Oke took advantage using a well-rehearsed passing routine with Viv Weatherington scoring from a Joey Drake pass.

The icing on the cake came for Oke when Lucy Wiseman sent a perfectly placed pass to Viv Weatherington in the OPM circle and she coolly scored Oke’s fourth goal.