Lancaster Hockey Club: latest match reports

Here are the latest match reports from Lancaster Hockey Club.

Lancaster 1s 3-0 Chester 1s (March 11)

Lancaster started the brighter of the two teams with Ella Bookless making some great runs down the right. She found Ali Standeven-Johns who crossed the ball to Nicola Conway but her first time shot was smothered by Chester's goalkeeper.

Lancaster kept the pressure on but their final ball let them down and Chester kept the scores level. Lancaster then found themselves under a bit of pressure with goalkeeper Leighan Bleasdale making a great double save and Chester then firing over with the empty goal gaping.

Chester kept the pressure on winning a penalty corner, which Ali Standeven-Johns diffused before finding Bookless.

She ran the length of the pitch and found Caitlin Ball in space. She then found Conway who smashed the ball home.

Into the second half and Lancaster kept piling forward and after another penalty corner was well struck by Nina Helme, Ali Standeven-Johns was on hand to convert the rebound.

Chester then turned up the pressure looking for a quick goal back, but Jayde Christeansen and Heather Shackleton were strong at the back to limit their chances on goal. After another great break up the pitch Caitlin Ball worked it well into the D and scored.

But the umpires decided on a penalty corner instead of a goal much to Ball's disappointment. However, from the resulting corner Conway had her shot saved and this time Hayley Standeven-Johns was there to smash home the rebound.

Chester were all but done, but with only three minutes to play they won one last penalty corner which hit Shackleton on the line and Chester were awarded a penalty stroke. Leighan Bleasdale went the right way and made a great mid-air save to her right to keep the clean sheet intact.

A fantastic three points for Lancaster takes them up to third in the table.

Team: Leighan Bleasdale (GK) (C), Nina Helme, Nicola Conway, Jayde Christeansen, Julie Walker, Zoe Oswald, Ali Standeven-Johns, Hayley Standeven-Johns, Libby Thwaites, Caitlin Ball, Heather Shackleton, Ella Bookless and Katie Oliver

Goal Scorers: Nicola Conway, Ali Standeven-Johns and Hayley Standeven-Johns Team Sponsor: Sue Bridges Estate and Letting Agents Match Sponsor: Woodcrest Garden Centre

Garstang 3s 1-0 Lancaster 3s

Lancaster 3s made the short journey up the A6 to top of the league Garstang 3s on Saturday March 11.

After a challenging season to date, Lancaster went into the fixture as underdogs, but with the clear intention of upsetting Garstang’s exemplary run of form, and gaining some much-needed points from the fixture.

From the push back, Lancaster showed no fear and took the game to the league leaders. Terrier-like persistence from the midfield 4 of Rebecca Airey, Naomi Osborne, Ellie Blackstone and Ella Gill, stopped Garstang settling into an attacking rhythm, providing Lancaster with plenty of possession and chances to press high and put the Garstang defence under pressure however, early attacks from forwards Emily Bamber-Dowthwaite and Izzy Liver were cleared to safety.

Garstang persisted, attacking down both wings with speed and skill however the sturdy Lancaster defence foiled all attempts at goal.

Right before half time, Lancaster broke down the right with Ellen Wills skilfully bypassing a number of red shirts, to pass the ball to Bamber-Dowthwaite at the edge of the D.

With no clear opportunity at goal herself, quick thinking saw a short pass to Liver on the opposite side of the D who had a clear shot on goal to the goalkeeper’s right. Unfortunately, there was just a bit too much pace on the pass, which put Liver on the back foot and enabled the Garstang defender to recover and clear the shot to safety.

The second half continued as the first, with an evenly matched battle between the two teams. Opportunities from penalty corners at both ends resulted in excellent defending and nullified threat.

As Lancaster tired, the game opened up, giving Garstang the much desired space and time on the ball that they had been hoping for, and on the 60th minute they broke the deadlock.

The ball came in from the right, and after an initial shot was successfully covered by goalkeeper Esmee Fitton, the ball then luckily fell to another Garstang player who played it around the back to the waiting attacker who had momentarily managed to escape her defender and slotted home at the back post. A minor lapse of concentration from Lancaster, and Garstang pounced.

The team in red thought they had doubled their lead a few minutes later, however the goal was disallowed as the umpire had already blown to award a penalty corner.

Lancaster valiantly kept fighting on, with outstanding defending and leadership from Angie Evans-Hill at full back, retaining Lancaster possession, dispelling any Garstang attacking efforts, and showcasing some silky ball skills in the process.

In a last gasp attempt, Lancaster won a penalty corner at the final whistle. Throwing all players forward to try and get that well deserved equaliser. The injection from Molly Chapman was pacey to the slip player Airey, with the initial shot saved by the Garstang defence.

The ball fell beautifully to Bamber-Dowthwaite with a clear shot on goal, but she lost her footing and hit the deck. The loose ball was again hoisted at the Garstang goal, but the defence regained control and cleared out of the 25 signalling the end of the match.

A disappointing result for Lancaster 3s, but an excellent team performance and a great game to watch for the neutral. 

Team: Rebecca Airey, Molly Baines, Emily Bamber-Dowthwaite, Ellie Blackstone, Molly Chapman, Angie Evans-Hill, Esmee Fitton (GK), Alison Gardner (C), Ella Gill, Izzy Liver, Naomi Osborne, Ellen Wills and Jayne Roper

Player of the Match: Ella Gill

Match Sponsor: Woodcrest Garden Centre