Morpeth Ladies Hockey First Team Saturday 15th March 2008
Morpeth 8 Norton 0
The smog definitely lifted for once on Teeside for this match. Morpeth’s poor luck changed but their high standard of play maintained and they capitalised on their opportunities well. Unusually they performed as well if not better in the second half after an impressive first.
Bowler passed down the line to Dixon. Dixon struck cleanly and powerfully across the D and the ball was met by Grant who put an end to her fluffing in front of goal and definitely pierced the cling film over the goal. 1-0
Never to be outshone Moore scored the second with a ball from the middle of the D. She spun around her defender and struck with her reverse stick into the bottom left of the goal. Just the usual, nothing too flash.
The third of the half was a bit of a team affair. Cockburn took a free hit on the edge of the D and passed to Bowler who wall passed back. Cockers fired a ball across the D and Grant unselfishly touched the ball into the path of Moore who secured her second.
In the second half there were more goals to come and a battle for the hat-trick queen of the game.
Goal number four started with a fantastic cross from Bowler who picked out the run of Dixon. Unfortunately the target quite spectacularly missed the ball, or maybe she just dummied. Luckily behind her Grant never took her eye off the ball and scored her second of the game.
Dixon managed better for the fifth goal where she carved out a shooting opportunity for herself, turning her defender inside out and leaving her for cold. An impressive piece of skill only outdone by her clinical finish.
The sixth came from an unlikely source. Morpeth won a penalty corner and Grant struck at goal. The keeper made a save and cleared left. Wardle chased the ball down and pulled slightly back. She saw a glimpse of the goal and could not resist having a go despite the seemingly impossible angle. The ball managed to squeeze between the defender and the keeper much to their and Wardle’s amazement.
Morpeth’s lucky seventh was just that. It resulted from a brilliant adoption of the advantage rule by the umpire. Moore struck at Norton’s goal. The keeper made a save but parried the ball onto her own player’s foot then onto the back of her stick and then into the goal. This comedy of errors handed Moore her hat-trick.
Soon after Moore’s third she was hungry to add a fourth. Cockburn made a perfectly weighted through ball to Moore who collected and struck first time. The reverse stick shot fired under the Norton keeper, who despite the score line had a good game.
Although this was obviously a game for the forwards Morpeth’s whole team performed well. They effectively put into practice passing the ball round the back and using their pivot Cockburn. They also tried to build up their attacks rather than always adopting the long ball.
Morpeth only have one game to go but on this performance should win their final game and see themselves safe in the Feeder league for another season.
Man of the Match – Fiona Grant
Team: Janice Rose (GK), Karen Hindmarch, Nikki Addie, Jenny Pattison, Lynn Watkins, Sarah Henderson, Emma Cockburn (capt), Nikki Bowler, Katie Wardle, Lindsay Moore, Lucy Dixon, Fiona Grant