| Match Report |
Pelicans Ladies 1sts v St Ives Ladies 1sts
January 26 th 2019 at St. Ives Hockey Club.
Team – Atlanta Stevenson (GK), Tracy Bower, Laura Tea (Capt.), Nic Lankfer, Ellie Burt, Suzi Lemon, Lucy
Lim, Mia Moore, Poppy Beales, Grace Carrier, Ellie Bower and Holly Nash.
Pelicans travelled to St Ives knowing that the opposition would be out to avenge the 8 -1 beating handed
out by Pelicans in the home fixture and a tough match awaited. A largely unchanged teamed lined up in
the normal diamond formation with Stevenson in goal, Carrier left back, Tracy Bower centre back, Lankfer
right back, Lim left mid, Burt base of the diamond, Lemon right mid, Laura Tea top of the diamond, Moore
right wing, Beales centre forward and Nash on left wing. Ellie Bower started on the bench.
Early pressure was all Pelicans and the St Ives keeper did well to save a well struck shot from Beales. With 5
minutes gone, St Ives gained possession and rapid passing upfield saw their no. 8 player drive into the D
and dispatch a powerful shot into the corner. 1-0 to St Ives.
Pelicans looked surprised but unworried but struggled to cope with a spell of strong St Ives pressure which
saw them win a penalty corner which was well struck but wide. St Ives kept up the momentum and won a
further penalty corner which was neatly dispatched. 2-0 to St Ives.
On 15 minutes gone, the dangerous St. Ives no. 8 player again drove into the Pelicans D and in the ensuing
defensive melee, the ball was bundled over the line. 3-0 to St Ives.
Pelicans looked a little punch drunk but kept on their game and started to have the better of possession
and looking to get back into the game. The ever alert St Ives no 8 had other ideas though and picking up a
loose ball in Pelicans half, drove into the D and crashed another fine shot into the goal leaving Stevenson
no chance. 4-0 to St Ives.
Pelicans came out in the second half looking resolute and with 8 minutes gone, won a penalty corner which
saw a well struck strike from Laura Tea rebound off the keeper and neatly collected by Lucy Lim, her shot
flashing just wide of the post. A further Pelicans penalty corner and straight strike from Beales drew a good
save from the St Ives keeper who also denied the same player on the reverse a few moments later.
Pelicans were starting to make more of their second half possession with driving midfield play from Ellie
Burt and strong running down either flank from Lucy Lim and Mia Moore on the right who was starting to
look dangerous after a long layoff with a finger injury and the seasonal break. With Beales double marked
and her diminutive figure often difficult to pick out behind opposition players, Pelicans were driving
forward but looking blunted in attack and unlikely to score.
Pelicans won a further penalty corner which Tea slipped to Beales for a shot which the umpire called high
but which in any event was in the side netting. As the clock ticked towards full time, Pelicans looked fired
up and determined to get on the score board. In that vein, Grace Carrier picked up the ball in her own half
and drove powerfully down the left flank, beating several opposition players and crossing into the D from
the baseline. St Ives managed to clear, but Ellie Burt picked up the ball a few metres outside the D, drove in
and fired a shot through the crowded D to score. 4-1 to St Ives and a well deserved consolation for
Pelicans.
A tough day at the office for Pelicans who struggled to cope with the power and stick skills of Helen Clarke,
the St Ives no. 8 who had an outstanding game. The Pelicans coaching team will have some work to do on
how to deal with some of the tactics ranged against them in these tough, physical matches.
POM – Ellie Burt.
Alistair Beales
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