Ladies 1sts Vs Broadland 2

Saturday 21stJanuary 2023

East Women’s Hockey League

Division 3 North East (North)

Broadland II 0 Broadland I 1

A goal from Natasha Blyth deep in to the second half was all that separated the sides in a titanic struggle for the points. With Broadland II sitting uncomfortably close to the bottom of the table and the Broadland I’s anxious to maintain their position at the top of the league, it was always destined to be a hard-fought game, and that’s how it was as both sides went at it ‘hammer and tongs’ from the start. Broadland II had the better of the early stages but could not get a sight of the Broadland !’s goal to bring Jen Crawford into play. Equally Broadland I’s could not break down a resilient and well organised Broadland II’s defence. Dani Parke, the Broadland II’s goalkeeper although brought into action on a number of occasions, easily repelled the few strikes the Broadland I’s managed to get on goal. A stalemate at half time, the game became a midfield battle ground, with some desperate defending from both sides but also some great teamwork, especially from the Broadland II’s. As the game developed in the second period, the Broadland I’s began to hold on to the ball longer and began to create some clearer opportunities and it was one of these that Tash put past Dani Parke in the II’s goal. Picking the ball up outside the 25 ( I still think in imperial) Tash advanced at pace Knowing Dani, as she went down to block the shot, Tash lifted the ball slightly, the ball being deflected off the goalkeepers pads and into the net. Although the I’s gained the points, for the II’s it still felt like a victory having lost so heavily to the I’s earlier in the season. Words to describe the II’s performance such as magnificent, phenomenal, come to mind.

Second team star player was Kerry Payne but having umpired the game in my opinion every single II’s player deserves credit for a truly magnificent performance.