Newmarket Hockey Club

Newmarket Hockey Club
Ladies 06-07

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Saturday, 17th February 2007. Cambridgeshire Ladies' League Div 1 - round 12
Cambridge Ladies 2	2 - 2	Newmarket Ladies 1
		Thomas Downs

Newmarket made the short trip to Cambridge hoping there would be an easy, almost exhibition game awaiting them. The opposition had other ideas and strove to maintain their winning home form and were keen to try and get out of the league relegation zone.

For Newmarket, the game generally was one of missed chances and flimsy defending at times. Town struggled to show any kind of conviction to start with and also to gel as a team due to missing players. It was left to Cambridge to dictate the pattern of the game and they did so by scoring two goals that came in the 16th and 26th minutes.

With their league win in the balance, Newmarket had to make a come back, and Beth Wombwell produced an exquisite strike that the keeper just managed to turn away. Shots were coming from the away side but many were not finding the target. A flurry of short corners followed for both teams of which none were converted.

There was plenty of room for Newmarket to drive into and Sarah Hummersone who played on the right wing found herself with clear routes to goal on occasions but Town ignored this and continued to play very centrally which left it easy for Cambridge to repel their attacks.

Newmarket’s ball retention remained good and possession was theirs by about 80%. Gail McDonnell in particular had some strong surges towards goal, and Isabel Hooley kept the communication going for Town. Sarah Haird was a tireless worker and she also ushered strong motivation to her team mates. This was reflected onto all as Newmarket soon created some superb sequences of passing.

Town began to pick out Zoe Bailey on the right in the later stages of the game, and a move created by interlinking play, which started from a defending clearance from Bev Rolph, resulted with Di Thomas hitting the ball in to the goal with a first touch, top of the D shot to bring the score to 2-1.

A new energy was evident in the game and there was some top notch covering at the back from Clodie Rolph and Sam Smith enabling Louise Downs to stride forward and shape the attacking chances. It was therefore no surprise when a short corner was finally won for Town, that Downs had time to put the ball far beyond the keeper’s diversion to level the score and put a bit of gloss on what could have been a very ordinary and disappointing performance.

Newmarket faces Sawtry at home next week where they hope to maintain their advantage at the top of the table. Supporters welcome.

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