Hockey match report 11th November - Morpeth Ladies’ First Team
Cup game

Morpeth 1 (3-0 on flicks) Kettering 1

Two matches in a weekend and a long travel is not usually a recipe for success for Morpeth but this weekend proved to be different. After a relatively easy win on Saturday against weak opposition this was a whole different Kettering of fish.

Kettering was strong and well organised, attacking in numbers. It is perhaps just as well that Saturday had allowed the Morpeth defence an easy game because they were to be tested to their limits in this one. Everyone had to be absolutely on the ball in terms of marking and the work rate was intense. Hindmarch, Pattinson and Watkins worked like Trojans to stave off the attacks.

Morpeth absorbed a lot of pressure but eventually made a few breaks at the other end of the pitch. One of them a bit of a goalmouth scramble with Halliday eventually getting the last touch before the ball dribbled agonisingly slowly over the line.

Kettering won a number of penalty corners but the Morpeth unit looked tight. Their equalising goal came from a break away in play and a player finding herself one on one against Rose. Rose came out to attack the player but she deftly slipped it under her pads. 1-1 and half time.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with possibly a few more attacks for Morpeth especially down the right. Tired legs were definitely starting to show. There were no goals, which meant extra time, and golden goal. There were no players jumping for joy.

Seven and a half minutes each way of pain and lots of running through treacle. Morpeth’s aim was to go for the golden goal but in fairness they looked more likely to concede then score. Using the sun to their advantage, the Midlands side thought they had won the ties when a looping shot seemed destined for the top corner. Despite the glare though, Rose managed to tip the lob over the bar with the toes of her stick. The inevitable quickly loomed - the dreaded flicks.

The flicks allowed Morpeth to let their older generation shine and true to form they did not let the side down. Fenwick stepped up confidently and scored. Rose then saved. Simpson, the oldest Morpeth player then also scored. Kettering struck wide. Cockburn did not manage to convert her flick but it did not matter, Rose pulled off another save and Grant made up for the day before by this time clinching victory.

Winning brings on another double weekend but practice makes perfect. Wakefield and Wrekin in the same weekend may require some spare pairs of legs.

Team list: Janice Rose (GK), Karen Hindmarch, Jenny Pattinson, Lyn Watkins, Marian Simpson, Nikki Bowler, Emma Cockburn (capt), Sarah Henderson, Katie Wardle, Fiona Grant, Alison Halliday, Julie Fenwick, Sally Bryson

Man of the Match – It was a team thing!!

Match sponsored by Kit and Sticks