Potters Bar V Cheshunt

Tuesday 13th April 2010

The first match of the season saw a mass of interest from the ladies section, with 21 ladies wanting to play. Fifteen ladies turned out to pull their hockey socks up for the evening push back. A mixture of 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI team players amalgamated to put out a decent team against Cheshunt.

Cheshunt had first push back, but it didn’t take long for Bar to steal possession and keep the majority of play in their half. 1st team captain Caroline Partridge setting the precedence by keeping the ball forward in her centre back position, and with Anna Walker’s energy and flair in the centre meant that any attack from Cheshunt was soon chased back and snuffed out. This allowed 2nd team captain Esther Strous to step up and provide support in full back, making fun work for the width players and speedy Jo Spinks up front.

Despite this, Cheshunts’ keeper saved a flux of attempts from the likes of Lucy Edwards, Shelley Farmer, Spinks, Walker and Partridge. Nonetheless, it wasn’t long before the distribution of passing allowed the genius of left wing Lucy Edwards to pound the ball pass the keeper and earn Bar’s first goal. The style of play continued and again Edwards found that finish to give another conversion making the score 2 - 0 before half time.

The 2nd half saw Liz Finding provide countless pressure up front, and with 9 players smothering Cheshunts’ ‘D’ the ball travelled in and out of the attacking circle like a pin ball machine. Farmer got on the end of one of Cheshunt’s deflections and flicked the ball pass the keeper to rebound off the right post. However, this bombardment continued until a short corner was won. Walker stepping up to receive the injection and smack the ball into the goal, making the score 3 - 0 to Bar.

Cheshunt had few fast breaks, and one found its way through faultless Lorraine Gallagher as sweeper, but Cheshunt’s attempt was denied by Kelly Hutcherson’s quick hands as keeper. Bar made sure this didn’t happen again, with the likes of Nic Holland stealing any push down their right wing and Charlotte Sayers adding pressure on their left and refuting Cheshunt’s advances.

Bar were really enjoying themselves, and it wasn’t long before Edwards earned her hat trick by tapping in a sneaky cross from Spinks, making the final score 4 - 0 to Bar. Starting the summer league season with a victory.

Umpire: Ed Newbery

Goal Scorers: Lucy Edwards x 3, Anna Walker

Team: Shelley Farmer (captain), Kelly Hutcherson, Lorraine Gallagher, Esther Strous, Caroline Partridge, Nic Holland, Charlotte Sayers, Jo Shadbolt, Anna Walker, Jo Spinks, Clare Rose, Shefali Desai, Liz Finding, Katy Francis and Lucy Edwards.