Trelawney

Okehampton ladies’ thirds 1

Mannamead ladies’

firsts 6

OKEHAMPTON Hockey Club ladies’ third team hosted Mannamead first team in a challenging match for the home side.

The Plymouth side were sitting second in the league and had beaten Oke convincingly before Christmas.

Oke went into the match with enthusiasm and determination; initially they matched the tempo and skill of the Mannamead team with Georgie Fallows moving the ball quickly from midfield into attack.

Mannamead soon started passing swiftly and accurately with their fast forwards moving rapidly into space to receive the ball.

Oke’s defenders Rochelle Woollacott and Joey Drake used their skill and experience to intercept Mannamead’s passes and deliver some well timed tackles but the away team soon turned their pressure into goals and took the lead.

Mannamead attacked in numbers but Oke’s midfielders Melissa Pinfield and Sarah Bazeley dropped back to help to defend and mark the opposition.

For the remainder of the first half Oke defended resolutely working well together but the strong Mannamead attack scored four goals before half time.

With a change of positional strategy Oke took control at the beginning of the second half with Rochelle Woollacott taking charge of the central attack and working well with Larissa Goodger to move the ball around the Mannamead defence.

Oke were rewarded for their hard work when an sideline hit was deflected into the circle and Louise Watts was in a perfect position to hammer the ball into the back of the Mannamead net. Oke were now in a buoyant mood and attacked the game with renewed enthusiasm.

The teams were well matched with exciting end to end hockey until the last ten minutes of the game when Mannamead stepped up a gear.

They were awarded several penalty corners which forced Oke’s player of the match goalie Lucy Wiseman to make some sensational saves. Oke were unlucky to concede two more well struck goals in the last five minutes of the match.