Bude ladies 6

Okehampton ladies 1

THE final scoreline did not, perhaps, reflect the balance of play but rather the effectiveness of play.  Bude gave a demon-stration in getting the ball, through swift anticipation; keeping possession; and accurate, intelligent passing. 

Bude scored first their first and second goals with skilful stick work that manoeuvred the ball around the goalie. 

Kim Bland then scored for Oke after an intense fight at the goal mouth. At this stage it looked as if Okehampton had a chance.  Their player of the match Kim Davey and Jo Moppett seized the ball on every opportunity, speeding off through the defence. 

Swift passing and good positioning by Lesley Bingham aided the attacks but Bude's well-organised defence, led by an effective goal- keeper, stopped the visiting attacks. 

Two short corners took the score to 1-4 as  Bude's sharp attacks increasingly led to a defensive game by Okehampton. The visiting midfield of Louise Weller, Tara Davidson, Amanda Sims and Kim Bland battled hard but Bude were half a pace faster. 

 Jane Jones, Carol Taylor, Rachel Hammett and Anna Chessington worked hard in defence with goalie Shannon Osman making some excellent saves and keeping her defence in order.  Bude scored twice more, once with a smack from the top of the circle and once with a deflection that could not be reached. An injury to Shannon Osman saw Oke play the last eight minutes without a goalie.

Okehampton left the pitch chastened knowing that they had had a lesson from an impressive Bude team.