Petroc two

Okehampton ladies’ second 2

ISCA ladies’ fifths 2

THIS was the last league game of the season.

The game started with good attacking possession from Okehampton seconds. Debbie Pritchard and Molly Marvin in midfield fed the ball out to wingers Emma Wiseman and Zoe Curtis — each pushing forward into the circle so that attackers Viv Weatherington and Alex Collins had every opportunity to score.

ISCA’s defence were not relinquishing control in their circle, preventing the Oke forwards getting anywhere near the goal. But the home team dug deep, forcing the ISCA defence wide. Annabel Rademaker took control of the ball slipping it to the open stick of Alex Collins, who wasted no time striking a hard shot at goal to give Oke an early lead.

The rest of the first half saw strong play from both teams. ISCA, second in the league, had their eyes on promotion and were not about to relinquish their success. They kept the home team busy. Defensive players Anna Luxton, Sandra Douglas and Rachel Adams had to fight hard together to match the mass of attacking ISCA players. A couple of short corners were awarded to ISCA due to offences committed by home players in the circle but Alice Wiseman, the goalie made sure the ball stayed clear of the goal line.

Play was fast and furious at times with the ball moving quickly from end to end. Molly Marvin, player of the match, never gave up, preventing the visitors having possession in mid field. Her quick sharp stick skills left ISCA standing still while she made many useful sprints up the pitch feeding the ball back into the circle.

Viv Weatherington, came out of defence and received the ball from Marvin to drive the ball between the goalie’s feet to make it 2-0 at half time.

The second half started just like the first, fast paced play from all players. But ISCA having beaten Oke 5-1 before Christmas were not going to let a win out of their sight. They put the home defence under a lot of pressure and when the midfielders Pritchard and Marvin did clear the ball forward, Annabel Rademaker, Emma Wiseman and Zoe Curtis were forced to put pace on their passing to keep ISCA out of play.

The fast pace stretched the stamina and fitness of both teams and it was not long before ISCA found a gap in defence and took the score to 2-1. A misjudged attack on a strike at goal found goalie Alice Wiseman defending a penalty flick but ISCA completely missed the goal.

Alex Collins, Viv Weatherington and Lucy Wiseman found themselves fighting hard to increase the lead but it was not to be.

By the time the final whistle had blown ISCA had piled on the pressure. They struck the ball from the top of the circle and despite desperate attempts by Sandy Douglas and Rachel Adams to stop the ball, it clipped both their sticks, deflected and found its way to the back of the net.

Both teams displayed their best hockey skills in a friendly but competitive final league game with Okehampton ladies seconds finishing mid-table.