| Date | 25th November |
| Versus | Wrekin |
| Score | 4-3(W) |
| Scorer's | O’Brien, Moore 2, Dixon. |
| M.O.M. | Lucy Dixon |
| Report | Hockey match report 25th November - Morpeth Ladies’
First Team Morpeth 4 Wrekin 3 The captain’s words before the game were “Go three nil up and then we can die a death”. She based her team talk on how tired the players were from the tough game the day before and the opinion that three would be enough to see them clear. She may have been joking but for once her players took her at her word – she may however have kicked herself at the end of full time. This team were not the calibre of the opposition from the day before but Morpeth made hard work of the game because they were weary from their league game and the long travel. However although they should have finished the game off fully in the first half they only managed one solitary goal. Moore who looked dangerous everytime she had possession, took the ball left from the top right hand corner of the circled and as she approached the goal struck reverse stick. Her shot nutmegged the keeper and the relief amongst her team mates was almost audible. Wrekin had a sweeper who hit the ball like a rocket. Unfortunately for Morpeth she didn’t stay back for penalty corners and before half time had inflicted large concentric circle bruises on Watkins’ and Wardle’s legs which didn’t make the rest of the lengthy game too comfortable for them. In the second half there were goals aplenty for both teams. Moore scored Morpeth’s second from a seemingly impossible angle. The keeper came to her and she slipped the ball passed. Dixon tried to poach the last touch but narrowly missed and the ball went in unaided. Dixon however contributed greatly to Morpeth’s third goal. She broke down the right wing and carried the ball with fantastic pace to the byline where she crossed the ball across goal. Her strike was met by O’Brien’s reverse stick sweep. At this point Morpeth thought they could run amok and started to push high in the hope of a goal fest. But instead dying a death is just what happened. Wrekin had been ineffectual from open play the whole game and continued to be so. Cockburn regularly broke down their attacks with seeming ease and had an excellent and commanding game. They scored all three of their goals from well organised penalty corners, very disappointing for the Morpeth defence who are usually so tight. But it is not every game they face an opponent with a strike so fearfully powerful. The first goal came from a straight shot. Rose saved but her touch went straight forward. She tried to recover and make the ball but slipped on her way to it allowing a Wrekin player in first, who slotted it through Rose’s legs. Wrekin’s second was again a straight shot. There were three players in line with the shot. Wardle running one from the corner missed the ball, it then also bypassed Rose and Hindmarch who was guarding the line. There were a few “how did that happen” looks exchanged. Their third goal Wardle managed to reach the striker and make connection with the ball but unfortunately the rebound fell to a Wrekin player who passed towards the penalty spot. The player waiting struck between Rose and Hindmarch and into the goal. The dreaded late on a Sunday extra time arrived. The first half passed with Morpeth having the better of the play but nothing to show for it. Then early into the second half Dixon scored a truly golden goal. O’Brien on the left passed to Moore who played a long diagonal ball. Dixon read her pass, picked it up beautifully and headed one on one with the keeper. She dummied the keeper, who went to ground and was then heading towards the byline making the angle to goal increasingly acute. She struck reverse stick, somewhat of a novelty for her, but if you’re going to win a game do it in style! She scored and her lawnmower celebration which had taken some practising the night before could be utilised.
Man of the Match – Lucy Dixon Match sponsored by Kit and Sticks
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