Bronze medal-winning Team GB star Helen Richardson came to Winscombe Hockey Club.

Winscombe Ladies 1st XI 1

Ottery & Sidmouth 1st XI 6

MISSING several key players, playing the team in third position in the league meant the Winscombe players faced one of their toughest challenges.

Unable to settle into their usual fluent style of hockey, Winscombe paid a hefty price for some initial lack of concentration which resulted in two early goals for the visiting team.

After half-time, Winscombe began to play some nice hockey and come back into the match. However, this wasn’t to last as a third goal was conceded.

A moment of inspiration and hope emerged when forward Keri Willis deflected a short corner into the net to make it 1-3. Winscombe’s midfielder Claudia Routhorn-James, making her debut in the first team after a two-year absence, combined well with Chloe Brown, who showed good vision and accurate passing.

Gabby Richardson’s drives into the D to win penalty corners was supported by good forward play by Jade Barry resulted in chances for Winscombe, but to no avail.

The tide turned towards the end of the match in favour of the strong play by the three exceptional Ottery forwards.

In spite of staunch defending and good recovery runs from full-back Caitlyn Flood, player of the match Charlie Phillips and some exceptional saves from goalie Kate Walker, the opposition scored three more goals to wrap up a disappointing match.

Winscombe Ladies 3rd XI 3

Wells City Acorns 1st XI 0

THE third got off to an excellent start when central midfielder Gail Izzard stormed up the pitch on an individual run to score within the first 20 seconds.

Winscombe kept up the pressure, resulting in two short corners and were rewarded when Jo Hann injected the ball, Vicki Pagett received and slipped the ball to Izzard, who netted a fabulous second goal.

Wells made a couple of breaks, but with a strong defence made up of Rachel Wallace, Jodie Honor and midfielder Sarah Kempster, they could not break through. The couple of shots on goal that Wells managed were saved by Winscombe goalie Roxy Newman.

After the break, Izzard once again ran into the D to slip the ball past the Wells goalie, securing her first hat-trick of the season and earning her player of the match.

Winscombe Ladies Hockey Club train and play at Hans Price Academy in Weston and has three teams playing league hockey, a development squad and thriving junior section (under-13s).

For further information please e-mail Gail at izzards@btinternet.com

Winscombe junior and senior players turned out in force to welcome bronze medal-winning Team GB star Helen Richardson to their club. Players got to have their photo taken with Helen and to hold and wear her bronze medal.

The Olympic legacy to Inspire a Generation was primarily responsible for the club’s 20 per cent increase in members this season.