Winscombe ladies lost their top of the table encounter with Redland/UWE.

Redland/UWE 2

Winscombe Ladies 1st XI 0

DESPITE working hard, Winscombe ladies lost against their top of the table rivals Redland/UWE.

The visitors started brightly and kept the opposition at bay and worked hard to keep possession. Sarah Holland led from the front with an impressive work rate, hassling the opposition and breaking down play.

Just before the half-time whistle, Redland seized an opportunity to pounce on a mistake and scored swiftly from a turnover.

After the break, Winscombe came out fighting harder to win the 50/50 balls. Michelle Isgar worked hard to counter attack from the right back position. In spite of the mounting pressure on the Winscombe defence, the backs coped well and defended cleanly, with clear and precise clearances from keeper Kate Walker.

Redland eventually broke through again to score their second. Winscombe’s forwards worked hard to stretch play and several times the team created goal scoring opportunities from the counter attack, but to no avail.

The John Hodge Solicitors player of the match was Sarah Holland.

Winscombe Ladies 2nd XI 5

Taw Valley 2nd XI 3

THE seconds were determined to come away from this fixture against Taw Valley with three points.

However, a quick turnover of play saw the Winscombe defence momentarily caught out and Taw Valley took an early lead.

Trudie Lynham was outstanding, using her strength and pace to connect with forwards Elly Yard, Hannah Bapty and Emma Caney to pressurise the Taw defence. The hard work eventually paid off when Lynham netted to bring the scores level.

Taw Valley’s response was to up the pace and their repeated breakaways brought two further goals.

Winscombe’s spirit could not be broken and midfielders Imogen Marsh and Caroline Marsh, along with Georgie Savage and Amy Knapman, continued to tackle hard and distribute the ball well to Lynham and Yard.

They were duly rewarded with a further goal from Lynham, which was followed up by a well deserved hat-trick from the tireless Yard.

Winscombe’s defence managed to hold the Taw defence at bay with Niamh Hyden in particular showing composure on the ball. Winscombe were delighted to come away with a well deserved 5-3 win.

The Quilter Cheviot player of the match went to Trudie Lynham.

Trudie Lynham in action

Wootton Bassett 3rd XI 0

Winscombe Ladies 3rd XI 1

THE thirds got back to winning ways and closed to within one point of the top of the table, with an excellent display and an outstanding team goal.

Good play by Emma Whitehead, Shirley Hartshorne, Jo Hann and Sarah Kempster resulted in several good shots on the Wootton goal.

Winscombe hit the post before they secured the well-deserved lead with a brilliant team goal involving Ella Byrne, Kempster, Whitehead, Helen Sinclair and Gail Izzard, who finished off a text book team goal.

In the second half, Winscombe lost the impetus and allowed Wootton Bassett to come back into the match. The pressure mounted on the Winscombe goal and stand-in keeper Jo Sawtell and her defence were called upon to make some frantic last-minute saves including a save off the line by Jo Hann.

The excellent Ella Byrne was again at her best, setting midfielders Katie Bowskill, Molly Roberts and Chloe Sinclair on the attack time after time.

The final pass of the match saw Helen Sinclair, with her daughter Chloe Sinclair in support, through on goal but the ball was cleared.

The John Hodge Solicitors’ player of the match was Jo Sawtell.

Winscombe Ladies 4th XI 1

Taunton Vale 5th XI 2

WINSCOMBE started in a positive way, with Vonnie Rendall, Dulcie Glossop and Elener Phillips prominent from the start.

Megan Roach, Maddie Bawden, Hannah Hussey, Tia Craig and Hannah Glossop worked well together in midfield, while Tia Rendall, Caroline Glossop and Georgina Glossop covered well in defence.

Player of the match, Lucy Slater made her debut in goal, making a number of excellent saves, but her inexperience showed and Taunton scored two in the first-half.

Play remained even after the break, but Winscombe eventually scored when Phillips slotted the ball home.

The John Hodge Solicitors’ player of the match went to Lucy Slater.

To find out more about Winscombe Ladies Hockey Club, please get in touch via the website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/winscombeladieshockeyclub