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LADIES’ HOCKEY
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
WELWYN HATFIELD TIMES SERIES
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■ WGC’s Mark Skilbeck looks to
start a counter-attack
BROXBOURNE 2NDS ...........................1
WGC ......................................................0
Down to the
wire for Sue’s
title hopefuls
WGC ladies’ title ambtions will go
down to the last game after
Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 loss
away at Broxbourne 2nds.
The result couldn’t have come at a
worse possible time for the de
Havilland based girls as a win would
have secured them the 5 Counties
League Premier Division title with
one game to spare.
■ WGC’s Kay Dobney
was denied a late
equaliser by a superb
save from the
Broxbourne keeper
Now they will have to win their
last game against second-placed
Leighton Buzzard to make sure and
with Luton on equal points in
second any slip up by either team
could see the Beds team capitalise.
Welwyn started the game at
Broxbourne well enough but nerves
were obviously interfering with
their normal style of play as passes
kept going astray.
Midfielders Michelle Webster,
Jane Kinghorn and Kay Dobney
persevered with their passing game
but Broxbourne packed their
defence to deny any flowing forward
moves.
Forward Becky Llewellyn was not
her normal sprightly self as she was
nursing a calf strain which
hindered her usual dynamic runs
but she was still a handful and
managed to get in some telling
crosses. But forwards Lizzie Owen,
Jodie Sharkey and Anna Geaves
were not able to turn into goals as
the Broxbourne defence and goalkeeper managed to scramble away.
Welwyn’s defence of Charlie
Honour, Lisa Sheffield, Annabel
Mabin and Heather Veal were well
in control for most of the half with
keeper Erica Stovold having little to
do.
Broxbourne caught Welwyn on
the back foot with a quick counterattack and it was a quick snap shot
from the top of the circle, through a
crowd of players, which wrongfooted Stovold and the home side
went into the break one goal up.
With everything to play for
Welwyn came out for the second
half determined to get back into the
game. The visitors had several
penalty corners but were unable to
capitalise and several open play
chances were missed. Defender
Holly Butrimas-Gair came on in the
second half and her impact earned
her the player of the match award.
Welwyn battled to the end and in
the dying seconds were denied by an
excellent save as Dobney tried to
force the ball through a packed
defence.
■ Bryn Evans looks to find a team-mate during WGC’s 3-2 victory against
Shefford & Sandy
Evans’ strike secures win
■ Max Roehricht attempts to bundle
his way through two defenders
Pictures: DANNY LOO
MEN’S HOCKEY
WGC...................................................3
SHEFFORD & SANDY......................2
Bryn Evans bagged the winner as
WGC men triumphed by the odd
goal in five against Shefford &
Sandy on Saturday.
With injury and unavailability
still plaguing Welwyn, Ollie Rowe
was recalled into the team along
with Roger Gordonsmith in goal and
Tom Kirby for his 1st XI debut.
Welwyn had the first real chance
when Evans was fouled as he was
about to shoot, advantage was
played as the ball fell to Max
Roehricht whose shot was well
saved by the visiting keeper.
Despite further pressure and the
lions’ share of possession Welwyn
were unable to get final touch to
make the difference and against the
run of play Shefford were able to
convert a short corner with a first
time strike which narrowly missed
Gordonsmith in goal.
Shefford were then able to add
another with an easy tap in. Late in
the second half a Shefford player
was given a yellow card for a clumsy
attempt at a tackle running through
the back of Ollie Rowe following a
warning several minutes earlier.
Welwyn were unable to capitalise
on the extra player for five minutes
but went into half-time knowing
that Shefford had been lucky to be
in front and the three points were
still up for grabs.
The hosts started the second half
well and were working hard despite
the heat and were able to score when
Evans’ pass found Oli Reynolds
whose first touch lifted the ball up
and on the turn he smashed goalwards beating the keeper.
Shortly after Welwyn levelled the
scores when Mark Skilbeck again
found Reynolds on the run in a gap
between two defenders, he then slotted the ball past the advancing
keeper.
Next Max Roehricht was shown a
yellow card for a slightly clumsy
tackle in midfield that almost came
off, followed by Fulton-Brown as the
players were being held to a very
high standard.
Shefford were unable to capitalise
on having two extra players as
Welwyn kept the ball wide and were
not overloaded thanks to good teamwork at the back and cover from the
midfield.
With Welwyn back up to full
strength again Shefford were
awarded a number of short corners
which were mostly blocked before
the shot could be made by Nathan
James and Pete Mullens.
Welwyn were sent down to ninemen with Rowe and Fulton-Brown
again sent to the corner. Welwyn
were motivated by the unusually
harsh decisions to play their best
and again nullified Shefford’s twoman advantage.
Then on another fast break starting with Mark Skilbeck in midfield,
Evans received the ball in space.
His first touch took it around the
defender to the baseline where his
first-time strike at full stretch from
a narrow angle beat the keeper
giving Welwyn the lead for the first
time in the game.
With Welwyn eventually back up
to full strength they were able to run
out the clock and gain a well
deserved and satisfying win.