Carlton Park I 9 v Harwich & Dovercourt 1

21/03/09

Park who had already secured promotion with their win last week were a little disorganised at the beginning of this game. Harwich had the first push back and immediately pushed forward. A lovely air shot in the ‘d’ by Mel Rodwell gave Harwich a penalty corner and although the ball was cleared a shot the ball was fed back in and a shot from an acute angle trickled into the back of the net. Having reminded players that we had started the game Park buckled down and started playing hockey. The ball was moved well from side to side and they immediately put pressure on the Harwich defence. Park were awarded a few penalty corners but failed to convert any of them due to good keeping by the Harwich goalie. Park eventually got the breakthrough when some good work by Vicky Le Fanu on the right drew the keeper out. She slotted the ball to an unmarked Denise Manning who had the simple tap in. Park then dominated the play and passed the ball well. The defence of Mel Rodwell, Kirsty Marshall, Mercedes Buckle, Emma Tuckwell and Kerry Whatling stood strong and dealt with any breaks that the Harwich attack had. Park then scored their second when another good cross from Vicky le Fanu found Lynn Whittingstall whose shot finished in the top corner of the net. Park were on a roll now and were moving the ball well. Tori Walton caused problems with her skilful stick work and her persistency in the ‘d’ paid off when she added the third goal. She quickly added her second in similar fashion. Vicky le Fanu completed the scoring for the first half when again her excellent stick work beat the keeper.

In the second half Park kept up the pressure and pushed forward. Within a minute of the re-start Wendy Corneby had added her name to the score sheet when she slotted home. Emma Tuckwell kept the defence busy with her bursting runs and Harwich’s defence were tiring. With the rolling subs working well Park continued to dominate. Mel Rodwell and Roo Mackie linked well on the left as did Emma Tuckwell and Justine Howe on the right. Park then added their sixth when Mel Rodwell supplied Denise Manning with a good cross from the left and she turned her defender and slotted home in the left hand corner. She then completed her hat-trick when the ball was fed to her and she dragged the ball away from the keeper and her shot found the goal. Harwich were then awarded a penalty corner but again the defence of Park stood strong and cleared their lines well. Park finished their scoring when Kirsty Marshall opened her goal scoring campaign for the season with a well taken strike from the edge of the ‘d’. Park with a break next weekend finish their season with a re-arranged game at home against Felixstowe. Good luck to Sarah and Colin on Saturday.

Squad: Karen Fletcher, Emma Tuckwell, Mercedes Buckle, Kirsty Marshall, Mel Rodwell, Kerry Whatling, Justine Howe, Tori Walton, Wendy Corneby, Roo Mackie, Vicky Le Fanu, Lynn Whittingstall, Denise Manning

Report by Denise Manning.