Neston Ladies 1

Pendle Forest Hockey Ladies 1sts 5

Forest travelled down to the Wirral peninsula

for the meeting between the the 2 teams currently at the opposite ends of the league table.

After an apprehensive start Forest required patience and finally broke through in the 15th minute when Freya Bythell drove the ball along the back line connecting with sister Olivia who slapped the ball in out of the keepers range, putting Forest ahead.

Four minutes later a strike by Steph Bedford found a narrow gap underneath the GK and hit the back board, making it 2 for Forest.

With Neston having no real intent to press the Forest defence, Forest had time to pick their moments to attack and pick up the intensity. They earned a penalty corner and a deflection by Thea Cormack found the keepers pads but Bedford was on hand again to convert when she followed up, giving the keeper no chance to react, scoring Forests 3rd goal. Forest were now into their stride and Cormack then bagged the next goal herself when Lisa Crewe took the penalty strike from the top of the D for Cormack to find and deflect the ball into the back netting.

Although Forest had a 4-0 lead, just before half time a failed clearance at the back, allowed Neston a foot back in the door and the score line now read

4-1 at the break.

Neston continued to keep a tight unit as Forest attacked. They persevered and kept possession waiting for gaps to appear. Finally it came in dramatic form when Freya Bythell drove along the back line once more and sent the ball across goal with Bedford featuring again. With her back to goal she picked up the ball using 3D skills and performed a remarkable hit backwards over her head taking the keeper completely by surprise, providing her with a well deserved hatrick and MOM title whilst completing Forests triumphant 5-1 win.

This week Forest are at home to second in the table Wakefield.

Pende Forest 2nds 1

Lanc'ster/Morecmbe 4

Pendle Forest 2nds hosted top of the league Lancaster and Morecambe in an early Saturday push back. Previous clashes between the two teams always provided a tough battle in closely contested, physical matches and today proved to be no exception. Morecambe came out strong as Pendle knew they would, but still catching the home team on the back foot, opening the scoring minutes in from a rebound off keeper Jayne Kirkpatrick's pads. Forest took time to settle as players had to adapt to playing out of their regular positions, this was due to illness and injury. Lancaster capitalised on this, leading to a second goal from a well worked penal corner. Pendle created their own chances, earning several penalty corners of their own, but solid defending from the travelling keeper denied Pendle a deserved goal. On the stroke of half-time the visitors were awarded a penalty corner, the defensive back line of Janet Mitchell-Stanworth, Rebecca Whitham, player of the match Harriet Ashworth, Sarah Towers and Kirkpatrick, did a sterling job of keeping the ball out of the goal from four attempts, before conceding their third goal in a controversial decision where the Pendle keeper was thought to be fouled but not getting the decision. Pendle started the second half fired up, distributing the ball down the wings which they had failed to do in the first half. From the half way line, Mawgan Naylor passed left to Cathy Killgallon, slipping to Cath Hutchinson who on the top of the D tapped the ball to Karen Wignall, nutmegging the keeper in decisive well executed play we know Pendle to be capable of. The attacking forwards continued to obstruct the incensed Pendle keeper Kirkpatrick, leading to leading to a reprimand on both sides and a warning of being sent off if it continued. Lancaster fourth came from a beautiful reverse stick flick from a metre from the back line, looping over the keepers head. Lancaster closed the game out with a well drilled penalty corner.

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