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Sat 28 Sep 2019 · Midland Region Hockey Association Womens League - Division 2
Ladies 1st XIStourport Ladies 3rd XI
C Fowle (5')
1
4
Not quite the start we wanted!
Toni Hustwait29 Sep 2019 - 09:58
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Injuries, illness and fitness affecting the team this week.
After a fairly successful and positive pre-season Kettering ladies XI felt confident going in to their first league game against newcomers to the league Stourport 3rds. It seemed that it was all going to go Kettering's way as a slow to start opposition gave away the ball a few times and eventually gave Kettering their first penalty corner. The initial strike from Charlie Fowle was saved by the keeper but didn't rebound too far. Toni Hustwait was quickest to react swinging at the ball and lifting it at the surprised keeper. As it rebounded off the keepers chest Fowle was their to take the ball in the air and get it into the goal, giving the home side the ideal start.
Stourport were not a side to underestimated and this goal gave them the fire they needed to get back in to the game. They're physicality was starting to prove too strong for the home side, and they seemed to want the ball more, being composed on the ball and cutting the Kettering formation apart. It was not surprising that they were awarded a number of penalty corners, some of which could have been avoided all the same with composure and patience perhaps. The first few of the corners were defended well, particularly when Michelle Tanser picked an attempted flick at the goal out of the air, but eventually Stourport got the goal their play deserved. A well-worked corner routine found the injector free to slip the ball in at the left post, finishing the half with a 1-1 score line.
The second half started the same as the first had finished, with Kettering seeming a bit frantic when in possession and Stourport taking advantage of the confusion that seemed to be apparent. An unfortunate miscommunication between Laura Beacon and Hustwait saw the game paused as the latter suffered an injury ruling her out of the rest of the game. Whilst it gave the side time to catch their breath, it seemed to affect focus and not long after the game restarted, Stourport found the back of the net again. An initial shot from the top of the circle wasn't quite cleared as effectively allowing the striker another opportunity to get the ball into the circle and after a bit of a scramble the goal was given.
Their 3rd goal came when despite the valiant efforts of Emma Storey and Stacy Hall in defence, another penalty corner was awarded to the away side. This time the strike took an unlucky deflection off Tanser's stick, lobbing Nik Baker in goal. Sophie Reynolds and Georgie Jones, who were voted player of the match alongside Storey and Hall, continued to try and push forwards, with Jones particularly unlucky to not see her strike from the right find its way in to the goal. Liz Metcalfe was a thorn in Stourport’s side trying to win her side the ball in the D. It was Stourport however, who had the last laugh as along ball found a player unmarked in the circle, who dribbled the ball in close to Baker to slip the ball between her legs, giving the away side their 4th goal and their win.
One loss does not define a season and Kettering will dig deep to address the areas for improvement at training ready to take on Tamworth next weekend.
Stourport were not a side to underestimated and this goal gave them the fire they needed to get back in to the game. They're physicality was starting to prove too strong for the home side, and they seemed to want the ball more, being composed on the ball and cutting the Kettering formation apart. It was not surprising that they were awarded a number of penalty corners, some of which could have been avoided all the same with composure and patience perhaps. The first few of the corners were defended well, particularly when Michelle Tanser picked an attempted flick at the goal out of the air, but eventually Stourport got the goal their play deserved. A well-worked corner routine found the injector free to slip the ball in at the left post, finishing the half with a 1-1 score line.
The second half started the same as the first had finished, with Kettering seeming a bit frantic when in possession and Stourport taking advantage of the confusion that seemed to be apparent. An unfortunate miscommunication between Laura Beacon and Hustwait saw the game paused as the latter suffered an injury ruling her out of the rest of the game. Whilst it gave the side time to catch their breath, it seemed to affect focus and not long after the game restarted, Stourport found the back of the net again. An initial shot from the top of the circle wasn't quite cleared as effectively allowing the striker another opportunity to get the ball into the circle and after a bit of a scramble the goal was given.
Their 3rd goal came when despite the valiant efforts of Emma Storey and Stacy Hall in defence, another penalty corner was awarded to the away side. This time the strike took an unlucky deflection off Tanser's stick, lobbing Nik Baker in goal. Sophie Reynolds and Georgie Jones, who were voted player of the match alongside Storey and Hall, continued to try and push forwards, with Jones particularly unlucky to not see her strike from the right find its way in to the goal. Liz Metcalfe was a thorn in Stourport’s side trying to win her side the ball in the D. It was Stourport however, who had the last laugh as along ball found a player unmarked in the circle, who dribbled the ball in close to Baker to slip the ball between her legs, giving the away side their 4th goal and their win.
One loss does not define a season and Kettering will dig deep to address the areas for improvement at training ready to take on Tamworth next weekend.
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