Hardworking hockey women claim vital win
UNIVERSITY OF YORK FIRSTS 2 vs. UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE SECONDS 1
BUCS Northern Conference 2B, Wednesday 11th February 2009
It was close, tense and at times scrappy, but York women’s hockey team have their first league win of the season. On the bitterly cold all-weather pitch yesterday, they beat Newcastle seconds to give them a fighting chance of staying in the tight Northern Conference 2B.
Like this season’s previous encounter between these two teams – which ended goalless – it was a close affair, with the fantastic York defence withstanding long periods of Newcastle pressure. However, in the sixty-fifth minute Laura Pepper slotted the ball home after a scramble around the Newcastle shooting circle to put York into the lead. They held on to secure a deserved victory from an all-round impressive and spirited performance.
The win takes them from bottom to third in the division, overtaking Newcastle in the process. It has been a difficult season so far for York, made worse with the recent news that captain Marieke Hampshire could be out for a significant period of time after being hit in the face by a hockey ball. She was there at the sidelines yesterday, sporting an impressive black eye, to see a victory that could turn the team’s season around.
(Justyn Hardcastle)
It did not start so well, however. The visitors did not take long to adjust to their surroundings and after five minutes they had the lead. A well taken short corner resulted in an open shot for Newcastle, which was driven into the goal. York responded quickly with a period of pressure down the left, led by the impressive and hardworking Charlie Bartlett, who the team later voted woman-of-the-match.
York passed well in the midfield and looked the better team in the early stages of the first-half. Pepper had a good chance to level the scores after a York short corner, but her shot went narrowly wide of the goal. Andrea Pisesky always looked dangerous and her quick, skilful play caused Newcastle big problems in the middle of the field.
(Justyn Hardcastle)
Yet the way team recovered and started to pile relentless pressure on York. A second goal looked inevitable, but outstanding defending from York kept them out. Goalkeeper Cassie Barker, who Captain Jaimie Unsworth afterwards referred to as a “superhero”, commanded her area superbly and Imy Eldergill-Storm was similarily impressive in denying the visitors. Nonetheless, York greeted the half-time whistle with relief that they had managed to hold on.
The second half would prove to be even closer, with more pressure from Newcastle and a continuation of York’s fast passing game in midfield. Katie Wilson was impressive down the right and Pisesky continued to be outstanding and unrelenting in her efforts – she had to be practically dragged off the field by Hampshire for a two minute rest. It was fitting then, therefore, that she got York’s first goal, coming from some brilliant build up play around Newcastle’s D.
(Justyn Hardcastle)
York did not let up and bombarded Newcastle with continuous pressure. However, Newcastle were not dead yet, and hit York with a series of fast counter-attacks. Barker was required to make a series of impressive saves to keep York in the match before Pepper sealed the victory with five minutes remaining.
Afterwards Captain Jaimie Unsworth praised her midfield for a dominant performance, as well as saying how “impressed” she was with the “hard work” the team showed. York will need to show a lot of character and spirit to remain in their division this year, but yesterday’s result showed they are a team that are not likely to give up.
York team: Cassie Barker (gk), Jaimie Unsworth (c), Charlie Bartlett, Laura Carter, Laura Pepper, Lizzie Hollins, Imy Eldergill-Storm, Katie Wilson, Becky Bradley, Andrea Pisesky, Anna Smith, Phillipa Edmonds, Karen Wallace
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