Top of the league too strong for ladies 6s - 24.01.2015

Mother Nature clearly wasn't in the mood for hockey last week.

PHC Chiswick L6’s v Eastcote L4’s

A week’s wait for a hockey match was finally over following last week’s match being called off by Mother Nature in the form of a frozen pitch.  Eastcote’s turf was definitely a far cry from the white icy turf we had last week. Chiswick rocked onto the pitch with plenty of gumption; we were ready to put up a good fight against top of the league for the 3 points to take home.

Chiswick 6s held up pressure for much of the first half.  It could have been anybody’s game with the ball moving up and down the pitch. Eastcote kept piling on the pressure with their slick stick skills and surrounded Chiswick 6s at every chance.  A short corner was awarded to Eastcote that broke through our defence and netted in the ball with a flick that caught our debut keeper Talwyn Whetter off guard.

A chance for Chiswick to equalize broke when a beautiful run and pass from Freya Crossley up to Helen Lee into the D… but failed to convert into a goal with it hitting Lee’s foot on the way in.

Another opportunity came for Chiswick with an award of a P.C, but Eastcote were hot on it.  Even though Chiswick still had possession outside the circle, it was a desperate scramble for the ball between the two sides and the girls in blue lost the chance to capitalize on a shot on goal.

Half time score 1-0.

Coach Norma Bonnell’s half time talk and far too many sweets later for much needed energy, had us ready to go and make our mark on the match.  The second half saw a nail biting start with Eastcote attacking our D time and time again, with the last (Wo)man standing in the firing line Talwyn Whetter, displaying her newly acquired goal keeping skills by pushing and kicking the match ball away with ease.  But with much of the play in our D, it was only a matter of time. Two further goals unfortunately slipped in by Eastcote’s perfectly executed deflections while hanging onto post.

Finally, Chiswick got some possession with some brilliant runs up the pitch into oppo’s D, but failed to make a mark.  The Eastcote defence crowded their defensive D and were onto the Chiswick attackers like moths to a flame.

Eastcote didn’t falter and kept pushing into the D.  AChiswick foot and a P.C. later resulted in a fourth goal hitting the backboard.

Chiswick held their heads high and fought till the very end, but  when the final whistle went, there was nothing left to do but accept the loss, look forward to a fun packed training session and prepare for the next match.

Wo(man) of the match: Talwyn Whetter for taking one for the team and for a fantastic debut as GK!
DoD: Helen Lee for missing the clear shot on goal with some skills best left for the football pitch.

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