Doncaster 1s vs Stourport 1s

Doncaster Ladies hockey club’s 1st team have been prepping for the latter part of the England hockey national league season with a mountain to climb, sitting bottom of the table. The first task came this weekend as the league restarted after a break for the indoor season. Stourport were the opposition that stood as their first hurdle and it wasn’t a happy ending last time the pair met down south.
The game started with a bang, 7 minutes in, it was the home side who came up with the first goal of the game from a fantastic strike at a tight angle from experienced Captain Kirstie Grace.
With the ladies from Doncaster with the 1 goal lead, Stourport turned on the gas putting the pressure on at the other end of the pitch young defenders Abby O’Neill and Hannah Foy kept the composure in the defensive circle lead by re-signed goalkeeper Kaye Goulding saving several attacks, making sure they stayed ahead.
That was until 30minutes in, when the Mighty Whites added another goal through the creative play of Lisa Garbutt and the good positioning of Lucy Hetherington.
That’s how the second half started, 2-0 in favor of the home side, however things began to change. The weather changed dramatically and the wind picked up to a roaring volume, which was impossible to be heard over. It took another 20mins for any more action, when the visitors clawed one back through a strike by Holly Smith.
62mins and the home side hit back through a Penalty corner disguised sweep for a goal scored by new signing Emily Walker from Wakefield.
With a 3-1 lead and 8 minutes to go, the spectators thought it was over and Doncaster had the boost they needed but Stourport weren’t giving up lightly.
2minutes left saw an unfortunate turn of events when a ball bounced off the post behind Goulding, right to Stourport’s Bathurst for an open goal.
With a home side injury and time ticking down the visitors called a foul in the circle and were awarded a penalty corner, even though the final whistle had sounded it had to be played out. Although a valiant effort shown by the home side, the visitors were rewarded with a point after converting the corner through Stourport’s Symonds. Doncaster coach Andrew Gibson expressed his ‘disappointment with the way the game came to an end, but was impressed with scoring three goals and an especially great team performance by the girls, it definitely shows progress and is certainly looking forward to the next game.’
Not the reward Doncaster was looking for but definitely a step in the right direction. Overall it was a heroic effort with many positives, they really looked like a different side out there. This team is certainly still one to watch for the comeback of the National league season.

Author: Kay Goulding