Okehampton ladies’ thirds 4

Torbay ladies’ seconds 2

THIS was a terrific match with positive hockey played by both sides, creating end to end goal scoring chances.

Okehampton were first off the mark when they were awarded a short corner which Alex Collins struck well to open the account. Torbay quickly pressed forward searching for an equaliser which they earned from a well-worked move down their right hand flank.

Player of the match Oke’s Izzy Rowlands was impressive in holding the middle and cutting out the danger posed by Torbay’s young forwards. Ahead of her, Sarah Marvin picked up the loose balls and spreading the play to her daughter, Eleanor, who found space on the left to run at the defence and make inroads down the wing.

When the ball fell to Anna Crome, she sprinted from the halfway line, glided round the defence and slotted the ball neatly past the goalkeeper for an outstanding individual goal. This inspired the home side. Torbay were rocked when again the ball was passed forward at speed with some neat play between the front pairing of Alex Collins and Sophie Tripp; the latter unselfishly fed the ball back to for Collins to tap in her second.

Right wing Ligaya Coatham, saw more of the ball in the second half and made some mazy runs down the wing, adding strength to the attack. The Columbine players were first to the ball, always looking for an opportunity to go forward and things got worse for Torbay, when Anna Crome made it four with a well struck shot from the edge of the circle.

The visitors rallied and goalkeeper Carol Newcombe made some smart saves but could do nothing about the shot that was rifled into the back of the goal from a well taken corner. Torbay are comfortably above Oke in the league and this could have led to a nervy last 20 minutes but Sandy Houston, Sarah Bazeley and Lois Rowlands defended well both as a unit while Sandy Houston distributed well to her front players.

This was an exceptional team performance from Okehampton and they ran out deserved winners.