Ladies 1sts Vs UEA 2

Sunday 22nd January 2023

East Women’s Hockey League

Division 3 North East (North)

Broadland   5     UEA II   0

If any casual observer was to have strolled up to watch this game for the first 10 minutes, they might have thought the away team playing in white were the league leaders and not Broadland in green.   Broadland unable to hold on to the ball for any period of time and constantly giving it away enabled the enthusiastic UEA II’s to dominate the early period of the game.  Broadland weathered the storm and then relieved the pressure with a quick break initiated by Natasha Blyth which brought Varity Becker into the game for the first time.  Verity running the UEA defence in circles, powered a cross into the on coming Jess Bennett , who having taken the ball off a hesitant UEA defender powered the ball home for Broadland’s opening goal.   Broadland now began to look more threatening, but their midfield and defence had to stay on the alert as the students worked hard to get back into the game.  With a single goal lead at the break, it was important that Broadland got the second goal of the game which they did within a minute of the restart, when Verity fired home a penalty corner.  Broadland now in better shape increased their lead a few minutes later, again through Verity.  An absolute stunner. 3 metres from the near goal post and about a metre from the goal line.  Roof of the net job!  It still wasn’t all Broadland as the UEA side looked dangerous ever time they mounted a foray into the Broadland 25 but now firing on all cylinders Broadlands midfield and back line looked more comfortable and dealt with everything UEA could throw at them.  With Jenny Whiting out of the game with an unfortunate head injury from a raised ball by her fellow defender, Broadland threw on an an extra forward. From then on Broadland dominated down their left and eventually scored a fifth goal through Lydia Lawrence, from her favoured position by the lefthand post.