A superb second half performance saw Winscombe ladies score five unanswered goals.

Winscombe Ladies 1st XI 6

ECVH Ladies 1st XI 1

BOTH teams made a fast start to this match with end-to-end hockey, but it was Winscombe who emerged winners.

The Winscombe midfield worked hard to retain possession of the ball and exert some control into Winscombe’s attacking moves. Forwards Sarah Holland, Gabriella Richardson and Hannah Taylor won a penalty corner which resulted in Winscombe taking the lead.

The well-coordinated short corner was injected by Taylor, stopped by Michelle Isgar, slipped back to Taylor at pace from Kelly Clark. Taylor then deflected the ball past the ECVH keeper.

Catrin Mair and Julie O’Sullivan held strong positions in the centre of the defensive unit, but could not prevent ECVH equalising from a short corner.

Winscombe responded by increasing the tempo with strong attacking play from Charlie Phillips and Leanne Gardner as the half ended 1-1.

If the first-half was evenly matched, the second half was to prove Winscombe’s as the home team stepped up several gears to score five goals in 20 minutes.

Clark switched the ball effectively from one side of the pitch to the other finding Isgar, who worked well with winger Elly Yard to set up several opportunities at goal, before Winscombe finally found the net.

Taylor found herself one-on-one with the ECVH keeper and calmly slotted home Winscombe’s second to take the lead. Moments later Holland increased Winscombe’s lead with a lifted net shot, set up by a strong cross from Yard.

A pass from Gardner in midfield found Holland, who set up Izzy Savage to score with a hard sweep and she netted her second two minutes later with a powerful shot.

Winscombe’s hunger for goal continued as the ECVH defence began to tire from the pressure exerted by a high Winscombe line, pinning them into their own half.

It was fitting that Winscombe’s captain, Richardson, should round off a superb display of hockey with Winscombe’s sixth and final goal when she reacted quickly to a rebound off the keeper’s pads to secure an emphatic win.

The John Hodge Solicitors’ player of the match was Elly Yard.

Chard Ladies 1st XI 0

Winscombe Ladies 2nd XI 2

FROM the whistle, Winscombe took the game to Chard, communicating clearly and making quick, decisive passes.

There was great linking between defence and attack, with Caitlin Flood regularly feeding Imogen Marsh, whose fantastic running on and off the ball earned her the player of the match award.

Halfway through the first-half, Trudie Lynham received a fine pass out, took on a couple of defenders and sent the ball flying across the D, where Amy Knapman made no mistake in smashing it home.

Winscombe were now all over Chard, Jade Barry, Emma Caney and Caroline Marsh all coming close to extending their lead, but were thwarted by some great Chard goalkeeping.

The second half was more even, until Barry passed to Lynham at the near post, who slotted home confidently.

Winscombe played great hockey throughout the game, and some solid defence from Flood, Niamh Hayden, Jo Horwood and keeper Vicky Whittacker ensured a pleasing clean sheet for the defence.

The Quilter Cheviot player of the match was Imogen Marsh.

Winscombe Ladies 3rd XI 3

Wootton Bassett 1

IT WAS always likely that the team that scored first in this evenly-matched game would be the most likely to go on to win.

The difference between the two teams in the first-half was Winscombe goalkeeper Georgia Tulip, who at one point found herself in a three-on-one, but she cleared the ball, giving her defensive players of Sarah Kempster, Jo Hann and Jo Sawtell time to re-group.

The firs-half saw the midfielders of both sides working hard. Ella Bryne, Gail Izzard, Rachel Wallace and captain Gill Harvey, who was outstanding throughout, had to defend more than attack.

After the break, Winscombe came out firing and scored within the first five minutes when Helen Sinclair scored. Winscombe’s celebrations were cut short as within a couple of minutes, the opposition had equalised.

Wootton Bassett continued to apply pressure and won a couple of short corners which they failed to convert, before Winscombe broke up the right with Hannah Hussey and Kempster drawing players across, to allow Hussey to find Gail Izzard at the top of the D, who struck the ball home.

Winscombe defended well with Rachel Wallace and Gill Harvey managing to clear the danger and find Sinclair and Shirley Hartshorne up front.

It was Sinclair and Hartshorne whose combined efforts and determination secured Sinclair’s second goal and Winscombe’s third to seal the match and seal second place in the table.

The John Hodge Solicitors’ player of the match was Helen Sinclair.

Taunton Vale V XI 3

Winscombe Ladies IV XI 0

THE fourths worked tremendously hard against Taunton Vale 5ths, but were eventually beaten 3-0.

Winscombe had several shots on goal with forwards and midfield players working well together, it’s just unfortunate that none of the attempts on goal found the net.

Tia Craig, Maddie Bawden, Elener Philips, Dulcie Glossop, Tracey Stokes and Hannah Glossop also played well, helped out by Vonnie Rendall.

Kait Hazzard, making her debut appearance in goal, made some amazing saves and performed brilliantly. The defence was strong with Georgina Glossop, Caroline Glossop and Lucy Slater having strong games.

Despite being 3-0 down at half-time, the second half went well with possession in Winscombe’s favour.

The John Hodge Solicitors joint players of the match were Tracey Stokes and Kait Hazzard.