Ladies 1st XI Vs Spalding 1

Pelicans Ladies 1sts v Spalding Ladies 1sts

24th November 2018 at Spalding Hockey Club.

Emily Tomkins            Poppy Beales                   Mia Moore

                                   Laura Tea (C)

Grace Carrier                                                     Susie Lemon

                                       Ellie Burt

Emily Pluck             Hannah Bowman                Nic Lankfer 

                        Atlanta Stevenson (GK)

Subs: Ellie Bowers / Holly

Pelicans had push back and soon took to the task in hand, surging forward from the start, winning a SC inside 2 minutes, Burt injects, a strike by Tea, flick. Burt steps up and calmly slots past the keeper. 1 – nil. Undeterred, Spalding were straight back at Pelicans who kept their nerve with all players doing a fine job of soaking up the pressure and defending well. The game was being played a frantic pace, and on 7 minutes, somewhat inevitably, Pelicans gave away a short corner which was well defended. Pelicans won a SC of their own on 10 mins, Poppy Beales launched the ball and the keeper made a great save, side stepped to take it on the pads. Play continued end to end and Pluck gained possession, releasing to Lemon beating players, finds Beales who meets the pass with a perfectly taken reverse to beat the keeper on 11 mins, 2 – nil. On 16 mins Beales was shown a green card for a stick tackle. 18 mins Spalding win a SC, again defended well. Moore made several surging solo runs down the wing where the pass was intercepted by the Spalding defence. On 21 mins Bower comes on for Lemon, Pelicans win a short corner shortly after, shot wide by Beales. Hannah Bowman making crucial well timed block tackles to thwart the Spalding attack, Tea also having the calming influence in defence holding the ball up well. On 30 mins Beales made a great run down the right wing, a flat but fast passed ball sailed past the defender to a perfectly placed Moore, unfortunately couldn't get the shot off. On 33 minutes it was the turn of Nash to unleash a shot on goal saved by the keeper, shortly followed by a Pelicans 2 v 1 and the Spalding keeper with a fine save keeps them in the game. HT 2 – nil.

A team talk by Coach Tea sees all the Pelicans outfield players start the 2nd half pressed into the 2nd quarter of the pitch. 2 mins into the half as Pluck gains possession, Beales calls for the ball which was laid off perfectly, attacking through the centre flanked by Moore on the right and Tompkins on the left, the Spalding defence are torn ragged and the ball is smashed home by Beales to make it 3 – nil. 6 minutes into the 2nd half Pelicans win a SC, injected perfectly by Burt, rifled hard and low by Tea to be deflected high into the Spalding net. The home side looking deflated and beaten, Pelicans continued with fine passing hockey. 10 minutes in and its the turn of Tompkins to make a pacey run following a great pass from Carrier, Tomkins finds Beales who passes into the net with a well taken goal, her hat trick making it 5 – nil to Peli’s. Moore goes off for a rest and to take on water. Spalding find another lease of life and continue the attack. Tea wins the ball inside the 23 and with close stick skills holds the ball up brilliantly amongst 2 or 3 attacking Spalding players.

Moore returns to the field on 18 minutes and makes a piercing run on the left wing following a pass from Pluck winning a SC on 20 mins, the ball injected, Moore drag flicks to be denied by the keeper. The young forward line continue to surge forward at every opportunity, Beales to Moore who takes flight over the keeper and crashes to the floor. Pelicans winning a SC on 25 minutes that is well defended by Spalding. Another attack Tomkins → Tea → Bowers → Beales crosses the ball to Moore, bobbles over her stick (Should have been #6). On 28 minutes, Carrier wins the ball, perfect pass to Nash, perfect one touch pass to Beales who buries the ball for her 4th making it 6 -nil. In the last few minutes Lankfer is in the mix in the opposition D, looking to add her name to the score sheet. Fine passing hockey from Lemon, Beales and Tompkins.

Players POM – Pluck / Coaches POM – Lemon

Atlanta Stevenson in the Peli’s goal made an important contribution, making some fine saves and orchestrating her defence brilliantly.