South

Okehampton hockey ladies’ firsts 2

Caradon ladies 5

CARADON came out fighting, putting Okehampton’s defence under pressure.

Oke’s back three — Abi Colton, Laura Parsons and Nicky Pedrick —worked hard but Caradon won their first short corner. The defence came out fast but were unable to prevent Caradon from scoring their first goal.

Okehampton fought back with some good passing down the field and the wing. Their first goal came from a great pass from winger Kim Davey, which was met by Lesley Bingham on the post and deflected into Caradon’s goal.

Oke’s midfield of Sophie Whiteley and Jess Medland worked hard intercepting Caradon’s forwards and distributing the ball out to the wings and finding Sophia Marshall and Anna Speak, who both worked hard getting the ball to forwards Hannah Whiteley and Lesley Bingham. Okehampton put Caradon under pressure with several shots on goal but to no avail.

Caradon then broke through the middle, with Oke’s defence beavering away and despite great saves from goalkeeper Alice Wiseman, Caradon scored again.

Okehampton continued to play well but Caradon came at the defence again and gained a short corner, from which they scored from the top of the D.

After half time Okehampton came back on still positive and determined. Okehampton made some great passing, especially from Emily Rowlands playing in central midfield, which put the Caradon defence under pressure by winning a series of short corners but the ball just could not find the backboard.

Caradon again got through Oke’s defence coming in on the base line, slipping the ball past goalie Alice Wiseman.

Okehampton fought back and again with some great passing from the midfielders to the wing, enabled  Kim Davey to make a great run down and pass into forwards Bingham and Whiteley with the former again finding the goal.

Both teams worked hard trying to break through each other’s defence but Caradon were awarded a penalty flick, which they failed to convert, but shortly after they earned another corner and managed to slip another ball through.

The game nearing the end, finished with a final short corner for Caradon, only for them to be denied a final goal with a great save from Sophie Whiteley.