Hockey match report 24th November - Morpeth Ladies’ First Team

Morpeth 2 Wakefield 3

Wakefield are top of the league for some very good reasons. They are well organised, fast, skilful and strong and always make for tricky opposition. Added to this Morpeth are rarely at their best on fast astro pitches. Excuses aside however they put in a very good team performance in this match a vast improvement from last week.

Morpeth were aware they had to be first to every ball because fast breaks were Wakefield’s speciality. In the first ten minutes they did really well and fought hard with one or two slightly over enthusiastic last ditch tackles.

Wakefield inevitably scored from a fast break when Morpeth lost possession high up the pitch. The defence were outnumbered and the home team scored a good goal which was lofted into the top right hand corner from a reverse stick shot.

Morpeth rallied and were unfortunate to concede a second from a well worked penalty corner. The ball was switched at the top of the D to the right then quickly driven to the left hand post and fired in from the waiting player.

Last week heads dropped with a two goal deficit but not here. Morpeth pushed and fought harder. They were rewarded for their efforts. Cockburn struck a long ball through to Moore. She collected it at the top right of the D, dribbled in and shot reverse stick from the left.

Moore also put two crosses across the penalty spot but her team just couldn’t quite react fast enough to make something from them. Cockburn struck fiercely from the top of the D near the end of the half but Wakefield’s keeper only just managed to reach it and clear it for a long corner.

Morpeth knew they had to concentrate fully in the second half and could not afford to give away any cheap possession if they were to take anything from the game. It was disappointing for them therefore when they lost the ball in their own half and handed Wakefield a clear chance for a break. They took it gladly and ended up two on one with Rose. She attacked the player at the top of the circle but she slipped it to the player waiting on the post who slotted the ball home. 3-1

Morpeth were by no means out of the game. The opposite - they grew in confidence in their attacks. They won a penalty corner. The ball went to Cockburn who slipped to Grant. She returned the ball to Cockburn who struck towards the left hand post. O’Brien was waiting by the post and nudged the ball goalwards but a Wakefield player saved with her arm. A flick was awarded and Moore converted magnificently high to the keepers left. Just how it should be done!

The game became increasingly tight and in the panic in the D Wardle made a topspin forehand to clear a bouncing ball. The umpire was less than impressed and she was shown a green card. Minutes later in an attempt to clear a ball from the byline she heard the whistle again and knew, without looking, the outcome. A yellow card and down to ten players was not what Morpeth needed.

The girls rallied hard and actually looked good with ten. Cockburn, Addy and Watkins were quite outstanding. No matter how they tried they just ran out of time to find an equaliser.

Morpeth may not have taken anything points wise from this game but what they can take is the fact they played much more effectively as a team and that when they pull out all the stops can play some sexy hockey.

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 – Katie Wardle

Match sponsored by Kit and Sticks