Tough opposition

The 4th team were up against some old, Oops I mean tough opposition when they met their 5th team for the 2nd time in a month.  With some key players missing the 5ths had the upper hand from the start pressing the 4th team defence from the off.  Some sturdy defending by Beth Sangster, Helen Higgs, Natasha Getcheffsky and Bernadette Pheiffer but they were unable to contain the 5th team forward line.  Justina Maddock has got her positioning down to a tee on that back post and caught the 4ths out following a long cross in from the left.  Hilary then played ping pong with the ball from a short corner which was overlooked by the umpire and lead to the 5ths 2nd goal.  The 4ths kept their heads up and some excellent play down the left from Hannah Meadwell finding Marion Kennedy and Emma Higgs feeding the ball into the target player Christina Bates.  Christina opened up opportunities in the circle but Di Twist had magical powers under her woolley hat and appeared out of nowhere on almost every attacking occasion.  There was a disappointing 3rd goal just before half time.  The 5th team had to rely on their on steam rather than that of the wind behind them and it showed in the second half as they slowed up a little and it showed in the score line.  The 4ths were unlucky not to score with the ball going across the goal line and wide but not quite finding the spot, following some hard work up the right from Fiona Holland, Helen Taylor and Lisa Malpass.  Then the 5ths breaking far too quickly (yes a word associated with speed being used to describe the 5th team is very unusual I know!!) resulted in a penalty flick and Christina Bates stepped up to the mark to take the flick.  It was a great flick but slightly too straight at the keeper, hence saved by the 5ths keeper, Jeanne Woolston.  Just as the 4ths thought it was a game of two halves the 5ths scored their 4th and final goal through Kim Lumsden (a 4th team player I hasten to add!!). 
 
Player of the match was Beth Sangster for the 4ths and Di Twist for the 5ths

Stockport Hockey Club are still looking for a new goalkeeper, if you are interested please contact Andrea on 0161 217 2037 or log onto www.stockporthockey.co.uk