Morpeth Ladies Hockey First Team Saturday 29th March 2008
Morpeth 4 Boston Spa 0
If Morpeth won this game and Ben Rhydding did them a favour and drew or won their match they would finish fourth and secure Feeder League hockey for next season. You may at this point be questioning the rules of relegation governing the league but realistically a degree in nuclear physics is probably required to explain and understand them. So putting that to one side Morpeth achieved their highest finish for several years.
The forecast for rain from 12 was slightly inaccurate. The rain started in Longhirst at exactly 2.10pm as Morpeth began their warm up. The heaven’s opened and before they’d begun the teams were cold and sodden. A proper northern welcome.
Despite the inclement conditions Morpeth were fired up. From the start they took the game to Boston Spa both attacking and hassling the play effectively. It did not take long for them to capitalise on their possession and sure enough true to form it was Dixon’s fine sweep that secured the first goal. Bowler passed from the top right of the D and Dixon timed her run to perfection to meet the ball. Just a reminder of her fabulous season.
The second goal was scored by Bowler herself. Just reward for her having set so many up during her first season at Morpeth. Wardle struck towards goal but the ball was stopped by a foot of one of the Spa players and bounced into the path of Bowler. The umpire played brilliant advantage. Bowler hammered diagonally across the D and into the goal. The keeper only heard it hit the backboard.
O’Brien was unlucky not to score from a penalty corner towards the end of the half. The ball was worked to her on the left and she wound up her magic reverse stick shot but the ball just fired wide.
2-0 at half time and Morpeth just needed to keep their concentration. Boston Spa although they had produced some good build up play did not look too dangerous in the D.
O’Brien was to have more luck in this half and jumped quite literally on her opportunity. Addy carried the ball down the right and passed to Cockburn who manoeuvred to shoot. Just before she could make contact with the ball a Spa player nudged it away. The ball was teasing O’Brien who under normal circumstances couldn’t have reached it before a Spa player. She dived and swept at the same time. 10 out of 10 for artistic impression and a goal to boot.
Dixon’s contribution came to an abrupt end when the birthday girl was carried off the pitch nursing a knee injury from a lifted hit.
Moore had come close several times during the afternoon and perhaps aptly secured the final win of the season for Morpeth. It was a solo goal. She drove across the keeper and flicked the ball over the line.
Morpeth looked secure in defence all afternoon apart that was from when Watkins had won the ball beautifully in her own D, she looked up to clear it and fell over, it must have been the rain in her ear! Luckily Spa did not pounce upon their opportunity they simply stood amazed.
Morpeth used the fact they were ahead to try out some positional changes. Watkins returned for a spell to her old CH position – she hasn’t lost her magic. Cockburn and Wardle swapped which both of them relished. Cockburn looked impressive higher up the pitch and the captain was unlucky when her sliced shot went wide.
Morpeth have lingered in this league long enough now and should be aiming for promotion next season but probably the only way forward would be to enlist the help of a coach. Any offers?

Man of the Match – Charlotte O’Brien
Team: Janice Rose (GK), Karen Hindmarch, Nikki Addy, Jenny Pattison, Lyn Watkins, Sarah Henderson, Emma Cockburn (capt), Nikki Bowler, Katie Wardle, Lindsay Moore, Lucy Dixon, Fiona Grant, Charlotte O’Brien