Wakefield lay top of the league before this game with Durham University snapping at their heels so a win was the only result they were interested in. Morpeth however have been playing well lately and the rub of the green had not been in their favour, something they were determined to rectify. As a result this fixture had battle to the death written all over it and it was not to disappoint.
Wakefield started strongly as would have been expected. And when the score was still 0-0 they were awarded a flick. Rose was not to be beaten though and made her first of many fantastic saves.
Against the run of play Morpeth snuck an early lead to take them into half time 1-0 up. Cockburn and Wardle switched at the top the D. This allowed Cockburn to free herself from her marker and receive a ball from Bowler. She delivered it hard to O’Brien who passed across the front of the goal and Dixon, as she has been so often this season, was in perfect position forward drive the ball onto the backboard.
The second half delivered much more excitement for the crowd, which had gathered, who had been suspiciously absent in the sheeting rain and gale force winds of the first half.
Wakefield scored two goals in quick succession. One was a deflection in the circle, which the Morpeth players claimed hit the wrong side of the player’s stick. Their second came from their star player running 25 yards with the ball and eventually generously allowing one of her team mates an opportunity to score.
Morpeth were not in a mood to lie down and be beaten. Virtually from the restart Addy passed the ball to Dixon who flew down the right wing. She put a fierce ball towards the penalty spot which Moore picked up on her reverse stick. She switched the ball to her strong stick side and scored in the bottom left corner. The keeper didn’t even smell it. 2-2 and game on.
Morpeth then shocked Wakefield by scoring again. It was a simple yet beautiful free hit routine. Cockburn passed to Bowler who returned straight to Cockburn just inside the D. Her strike was so sweet and rocketed into the bottom left corner bouncing off the board.
Wakefield were less than impressed. They have some quality players who had left a little in the tank until this point and suddenly began finding their fifth gear. Rose was called upon to make save after save and the number and quality she kept out was fantastic. This in mind made it all the more difficult to bear when Wakefield were awarded another flick. Rose made an instinctive save and her team were delighted but somehow the ball snuck slowly over the line. The cruelest blow after an outstanding performance.
However it was not the final twist. Watkins had marked Wakefield’s strongest player really well all afternoon, a task no one envied. So it was truly unfortunate when trying to stop her breaking through in midfield the umpire thought the ball hit Watkin’s feet. Wakefield worked the ball from here eventually into the goal from another deflection.
Gutted would have to be the only word to describe how Morpeth felt after the game. But positives must be found from every situation and it is safe to say Rose, Hindmarch and Dixon all had games they can remember for a long time and the team can be proud of their performance. When the sun returns next week so will their winning ways.
Man of the Match – Janice Rose
Team: Janice Rose (GK), Karen Hindmarch, Nikki Addy, Jenny Pattison, Lyn Watkins, Sarah Henderson, Emma Cockburn (capt), Nikki Bowler, Katie Wardle, Charlotte O’Brien, Lindsay Moore, Lucy Dixon, Fiona Grant