Morpeth travelled to one of their least successful venues with a squad that whilst still bristling with quality was nonetheless depleted thanks to the lure of half-term skiing trips. This was further compounded with the failure of their locally sourced umpire to turn up on time resulting in Fenwick having to forego her position on the right wing to step into the refereeing breach. Down to ten and the match hadn’t even kicked off!

The experienced Rotherham side sensing that the visitors were unsettled by this course of events started the brighter. By overloading the right, they created one or two half chances and their unusual formation was proving a handful to the normal resolute Morpeth defence.

It was therefore a little against the run of play when Morpeth opened the scoring. This was principally down to the pace and individual skill of Moore in jinking past three rather pedestrian defenders – her square cross subsequently being deflected by one of them, under intense pressure for Dixon, beyond her surprised keeper.

Indeed, Moore looked threatening every time she got the ball but too often she tried to take on one too many of the opposition – often when some of her teammates were in a better space to capitalise on the attack despite their reduced numbers.

Don Valley started to creep back into the match and showed some real threat from two well-worked short corners. The third proved decisive. Although Dixon parried the first attempt on goal, it fell back to the same player who thundered the ball goalward. Rose got a leg to it but could only manage to deflect it into the corner of the net.

Undaunted, Morpeth stuck to their game plan and looked to play attacking hockey. However, with no right forward, it was proving difficult to maintain sustained pressure on what looked like a vulnerable defence. Nevertheless, a short corner was eventually won and Cockburn’s crisp shot was deftly deflected past the diving keeper by Dixon.

The second half started in much the same way with the home side having reshuffled to try and take maximum advantage of their extra player. Morpeth became encamped in their own half and conceded a string of consecutive short corners, some of them harshly awarded for rather minor offences. Both Walker and Addy made brave goal-line clearances.

Eventually, the variety of the home side’s set play routine paid off, with the centre forward feigning to shoot but instead passing into the path of a fellow forward. It still took her two attempts but eventually the ball found its way over the line.

Far from digging in for a draw, Morpeth pushed forward and with a luckier break of the ball could have sealed the three points. Don Valley, also keen to secure the win, continued to look dangerous on the break but Hindmarch in particular was equal to what they had to offer.

So, a frustrating outcome – Don Valley again proving to be difficult to beat - but, given the circumstances, not a disastrous one.

Man of the Match – Karen Hindmarch
Team: Janice Rose (GK), Karen Hindmarch, Nikki Addy, Louise Walker, Sarah Henderson, Emma Cockburn (capt), Nikki Bowler, Charlotte O’Brien, Lucy Dixon, Lindsey Moore, Julie Fenwick