Hockey match report 1st December - Morpeth Ladies’ First Team

Morpeth 4 Norton 0

It can often be difficult to raise your game against considerably weaker opposition and in this match Morpeth were undoubtedly guilty of complacency. They knew they were going to win and sacrificed their sexy hockey for all out attack in numbers with everyone fancying their name on the scorecard.

It took Morpeth an age to score their first goal by which time team spirit was beginning to give way to frustration and frantic play. They had seven penalty corners in the half and managed to convert none of them despite trying all of their routines. Bowler came close and didn’t get the hump but continued to try, as did Cockburn and Moore just missed a deflection by a whisker. All much more impressive than Wardle who missed the ball by about the distance of the whole cat – and a big one at that.

But eventually the elusive goal arrived and Team Morpeth could let out a sigh of relief and get on with the job in hand more effectively. Bowler made a great tackle and came out with the ball. She headed into the D, dodged a defender with a little dummy flick of her stick and the ball rolled on to Dixon. She shot magnificently with her reverse stick and buried the ball into the right hand corner.

Half time couldn’t come soon enough. Cockburn gave her players a gentle reminder that if they didn’t do better there was a fair chance Santa wasn’t coming this year. A much better half and the gift of goals was to follow.

From the whistle to restart Moore was nothing short of incredible. Addy passed her a ball down the left. She received it beating a player as she headed towards the byline. After her mazy run she pulled the ball back. The keeper made a fine save but was floored and Moore swept the rebound over her. Her confidence restored she was hungry for more.

Addy was involved again for the next goal. She shot hard at goal and the ball was stopped by a Norton player’s foot on the line. A flick was awarded and Moore stepped up to the spot. She struck into the bottom right and the keeper dived left. 3 – 0.

Morpeth had more chances from penalty corners, most notably a great strike from Cockburn but by the end of the game they hadn’t scored from 11. There could be a New Year’s resolution there somewhere.

In the continuing battle for top scorer Dixon was not to be outdone. Grant, as though the lights had just been switched on her tree, made the most incisive and perfectly delivered pass through the defence to the D. Dixon was there and swept a cracker early from the top of the circle. The ball hit the bottom left hand corner and left the goal keeper stranded but Morpeth feeling much more festive.

Morpeth seem to have developed a habit of making hard work from potentially easy games however they all worked hard and despite some illness and injury they won the match. Simpson who has stood on the sideline rolling on here and there was rewarded with a full game. She embodies the spirit of Morpeth, there is never a trace of Bah Humbug.

Team list: Janice Rose (GK), Karen Hindmarch, Lynn Watkins, Marian Simpson, Nikki Bowler, Nikki Addy, Emma Cockburn (capt), Sarah Henderson, Katie Wardle, Fiona Grant, Sally Bryson, Lucy Dixon, Lindsey Moore

Man of the Match – Nikki Addy

Match sponsored by Kit and Sticks