Hockey of a Different Class

Newton was Stockport 1sts next league opponents and this was a match they were expected to win and boy, they did not disappoint!  Straight from the first whistle, Stockport totally dominated pushing the Newton forwards back to help their own defence and at times in the first half, Newton had all eleven players back in their own half!  Stockport kept pushing and pushing and the first goal finally came from Lisa Hornbury, with an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner.  Everyone was working well together with Gemma and Claire A in defence having little to do in the first half.
 
Stockport continued to press and despite having to work through Newton’s attack and defence, they got two more goals before the end of the half.  Jenny Plant got both of the goals, both of which were scored almost identically.  The first of her goals was from a free hit to Stockport at the top of the ‘D’, carefully placed to the far post by Lucy Cook and Jenny was there to put the ball past the Newton keeper.  The second was almost the same except Stockport’s third goal was from excellent build up play all the way from a hit out.  Gemma struck the ball directly to Chloe, who passed to Bean, who found Keri and her pass to the back post found Jenny who got her second goal of the game.  Stockport went in at half time three goals ahead and Newton seemed to have already conceded defeat.
 
The second half began with Newton going into attack but they were no match for the Stockport midfield who stopped them in their tracks.  The passing was slick from Stockport and they looked like a side that are definitely in form and at the top of their game.  The fourth goal was inevitable and was scored by Nicola Adamson who neatly pushed it past the Newton keeper, thanks to a straight to stick cross by Bean. 
 
Despite Newton’s best efforts, Stockport were unstoppable and continued to attack, really putting the Newton goal keeper under pressure.  The fifth goal for Stockport was a bit special with Jenny P completing her hat-trick with a nice little scoop over the keeper.  However Newton didn’t give up and were awarded a Penalty Flick (answers on a postcard please!), the second against Stockport in as many weeks.  Unfortunately Ange was unable to stop the goal being scored this week and Newton made the score  5-1.  Stockpot quickly cancelled the goal out though and got the goal difference back with Amy Nicklin scoring with a fantastic shot from a penalty corner. 
 
Stockport is definitely looking unstoppable at the moment and with this performance were in a league of their own.  Well played everybody!
 
POM – Jenny Plant – “Hat-trick Queen”