Okehampton Columbines Ladies Hockey I 7

Bude 0

OKEHAMPTON Ladies travelled to Bude with ten players for this friendly warm up for the season.  Within seconds of the whistle Jo Moppet scored Okehampton's first goal, zooming down the pitch with consummate skill and catching Bude unawares. 

Bude shook themselves and came back with attacks down the right wing, but the steadfast work of Alex Collins and Abby Colton fed the ball back to the two forwards, Jo Moppet and Lesley Bingham.  Time after time this dynamic duo carved their way through the Bude defence, despite the excellent work of their goalie, with speedy dribbling and sharp, intelligent passes. 

Louise Weller masterminded the centre, tackling and intercepting to snap the ball back into attack and Okehampton scored again and again. 

At times however Bude fed through some lovely straight balls that put the Okehampton side on its mettle in defence.  Viv Weatherington, on her maiden excursion as goalie, was cool and in control.  Viv cleared several good strikes, including off short corners.  Bude were unable to take advantage of their short corners largely because of the speed and skill shown by Abby Colton in her interception.

The first half ended with Okehampton three goals up.  Bude made changes to its squad and in the second half its attacks were largely down the middle.  Jo and Lesley still achieved their lethal forays but were frustrated by close calls and no goals.

A superb cross by Jo Moppett at an acute angle hit the top corner of the net to score and won the applause of both teams.  After that came another three goals to finish the game with Okehampton seven goals up.

Despite the scoreline every member of the Okehampton team had to work together to achieve the result and they left the pitch well satisfied. 

Okehampton play away next week against Newton Abbot for their first league match of the season.