Kirkby Stephen Ladies 2

Pendle Forest 8

PENDLE Forest have moved four points clear at the top of the North Hockey Women’s League Premier Division as they made it five wins out of five to continue their remarkable unbeaten run.

Forest, promoted last season without losing a single game, had the game done and dusted within the first 10 minutes as they raced to a 2-0 lead.

The visitors dominated possession on a slow pitch and were soon into their stride when Lisa Crewe gave them the lead with a shot that deflected past the Kirkby Stephen keeper. Within minutes, Charlotte Hartley doubled the lead taking the ball round the keeper and flicking it into the net.

Although Laura Kendal was called in to action to make a few rountine saves in the Forest goal, Pendle extended their lead through Hartley with a strike from the edge of the D.

Forest were looking comfortable and scored again when Hayley Bains crossed from the left finding Steph Bedford at the back post who slotted the ball home before Kirkby pulled one back before half time.

After the break, Kirkby caught the Forest defence napping to cut the gap to 4-2.

But Forest responded in emphatic fashion and a fifth goal soon arrive.

Liv Bythell picked the ball up in the middle of the pitch sending it out to Hartley down the left who crossed the ball for Crewe who dived full length to deflect the ball home.

It was one way traffic and Hartley completed her hat-trick in style, dribbling past a couple of defenders and rounding the keeper to score with a reverse stick shot.

Kirby had a couple of break aways but Kendal made two excellent saves with both pads and hands.

Thea Cormack then found herself in the sin bin with a green card for a stick tackle before Freya Bythell extended the lead even further with a drag flick from a penalty corner.

Forest were in dominant mood and could have had more but the Kirby defence kept making last-ditch challenges to keep them out.

But they did net again with a super sweeping move from one end of the pitch to the other. Steph Bedford picked up a ball from defence moving it along quickly to Hayley Bains who, with one touch, put the ball into Hartley’s run who rounded the keeper, rolled out and blasted the ball past two defenders on the line to score her fourth of the game.

Forest are at home to Alderley Edge on Sunday.