Women’s hockey rue missed chances as Newcastle gain draw
Photograph by Sam Newsome
UNIVERSITY OF YORK FIRSTS 1
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE THIRDS 1
BUCS League 3B – Wednesday 11th November
The cheers of the Newcastle University team at the final whistle said it all as they escaped today’s game against York with a 1-1 draw. York’s firsts dominated from first to last and were by far the better side, but the scoreline doesn’t lie and they were punished for not putting their chances away. It was a feisty game with Newcastle particularly aggrieved at the umpires’ performances, perhaps owing to the ten short corners York received, none of which proved to be fruitful for the home side.
York started the game as they meant to go on by dominating the early exchanges. Laura Pepper, who had a fantastic game on the right-wing, started particularly brightly and caused Newcastle’s left-side plenty of issues with her forceful running. After only five minutes York were awarded the first of many short corners, but like the remaining nine they were unable to capitalise on the opportunity. York kept pushing forward and had another effort cleared off the line only moments later. The home side’s expansive play was nearly their undoing throughout the game, often leaving themselves light at the back during their forays forward, and had it not been for some excellent defending by Imy Eldergill-Storm, Newcastle might have found themselves 1-0 up very much against the run of play.
York attacked incessantly for long periods of this encounter, but without reward. Photograph by Sam Newsome.
The general pattern of the game continued with York unleashing attack upon attack on the visitors’ net. Newcastle on the other hand were very happy to sit back and attempt to hit York on the break, something they threatened to do on more than one occasion. On 20 minutes though York finally got the goal their endeavour had warranted; Emily Lucas sweeping the ball past the Newcastle keeper with minimum fuss. This should have calmed York down and let the flood-gates open but instead they found themselves level again only moments later; over-committed, pushing forward and left with a two-on-two York reacted slowly following the award of a free-hit and Laura Mason finished superbly for the visitors.
As the first-half closed Newcastle enjoyed their only sustained spell of pressure and they would have been happy with their performance going in level at the break. They had somehow managed to weather York’s storm and grabbed a goal themselves, leaving the game was very much up for grabs. York would have been frustrated at their inability to convert their chances, but heartened by the quality displayed by Pepper and Charlie Bartlett who consistently linked up nicely down the right.
York began the second-half at a frenetic pace, perhaps because of the freezing temperatures, but more likely because they knew they had the making of the opposition and wanted to convert their chances into goals. They had another shot cleared off the line before a flick on from Andrea Pisesky was well saved in the Newcastle net. Two unsuccessful short corners later and the frustration was rising for York, who knew they deserved better than a draw. However, their desire to grab the winner nearly proved their undoing as once again they committed too many players forward and Newcastle’s Verity Holder was left on her own one-on-one against the goalkeeper – fortunately for York she contrived to miss and the scores remained level.
The final 15 minutes of the game were as one sided as a game can be without a goal being scored. York’s ladies unleashed a relentless barrage upon the Newcastle goal with Pisesky controlling the game, both Bella Slater and Becky Bradley might have grabbed late winners had they been able to reach crosses at the back post, and Pepper was desperately unlucky to see her shot cannon back off the post following a short corner, but it wasn’t to be York’s day and the score remained all square at one apiece. It was just one of those days where York did everything right but get the ball into the back of the net, Pepper was the outstanding player but special mention must go to Bartlett and Pisesky who also enjoyed strong performances.
York will be hoping for better luck next week as they come up against Durham fourths in the second round of the BUCS Cup.
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