Ladies 1st XI Vs Long Sutton 1

Pelicans Ladies 1’s v Long Sutton Ladies 1’s 27th October 2018 at Pelicans Hockey Club

Team – Molly Gromett (GK), Laura Tea (C), Tracy Bower, Emily Pluck, Ellie Bower, Poppy Beales, Nic Lankfer, Hannah Bowman, Mia Moore, Suzie Lemon, Emily Tomkins, Amber Scott.

Pelicans welcomed Long Sutton to Lynnsport on a day when the recent balmy weather broke, and cold rain poured down with the misty, murky conditions needing floodlights all game despite the 1.00 p.m. push back.

Long Sutton made a strong start and the opening moments saw them deep in Pelicans territory. Pelicans defence remained unruffled and from a 16 yard hit played the ball out confidently and slick pass and move hockey saw the young forward line of Amber Scott, Mia Moore and Poppy Beales charging forward. With only a few minutes gone, Poppy Beales lost her marker at the top of the Long Sutton D and slotted an accurate reverse stick shot into the left corner of the goal leaving the keeper no chance. 1-0 to Pelicans.

Long Sutton responded immediately, and the game see sawed from one to end to the other. As another Pelicans attack broke down, the ball ran loose to the Long Sutton keeper’s left and seemed destined for the base line/side line corner but Poppy Beales sensed an opportunity and sprinted after it from 10 yards outside the top of the Long Sutton D. The keeper, belatedly realising the danger, chased it down and went to ground just inside her D and near to the baseline but the ball and Beales ran past her towards the sideline. With head, down, running flat out and back to the goal, Poppy Beales reached the ball and one handed, on the reverse stick swept the ball back towards the D and, keeping a line no more than a foot from touch, it whistled through the gap between grounded keeper and baseline, and across the goal for the waiting and perfectly positioned Amber Scott to tap in. An outrageous piece of skill from what seemed a lost cause and a goal from nowhere. Long Sutton, understandably, looked stunned. 2- 0 to Pelicans.

With a few minutes to half time, Pelicans won a short corner and a pacy, accurate injection from Suzie Lemon was controlled by Poppy Beales, dribbled to her right and crashed hard into the left corner. 3-0 to Pelicans.

Despite the score line, Long Sutton were far from beaten and the second half saw them continuing to look dangerous and attack at every opportunity. Pelicans were not done either though, and a further attack saw a strong shot from captain Laura Tea well saved but the rebounding, loose bobbling ball was expertly dispatched by the perfectly placed Suzi Lemon. 4-0 to Pelicans. The closing moments of the match saw Pelicans sweeping forward and a well-placed pass from Poppy Beales to the flying Amber Scott saw the left winger one on one with the Long Sutton goalie, her well placed shot rebounding into the net off the keeper. The final whistle followed, heralding a 5-0 win to Pelicans.

Pelicans continue to develop under Sam Tea’s coaching and the blend of youth and experience played the best passing hockey of the season so far, with strong contributions from every member of the team. A memorable match in many ways, the young forward line delivering goals despite numerous cuts, bangs and bruises from a rather physical defence, a towering midfield performance from Suzie Lemon topped by a goal, two goals for 14 year old Amber Scott, two goals and two assists from 14 year old Poppy Beales and a superb display of goal keeping from 15 year old Mollie Gromett which included saving a penalty flick. Special mention must go to mother and daughter duo of Tracy and Ellie Bower who made a huge contribution to their first match in ladies 1’s together, topped by Ellie wining P.O.M. on her 1st team debut.

Player of the Match – Ellie Bower for a fine debut in Ladies 1’s.

Alistair Beales 27-10-18

Disclaimer – this match report is written by a touchline parent who doesn’t play hockey and who usually has a daughter in the team so nepotism and ignorance of the game to the fore.