Lancaster Hockey Club match reports

Here are the latest match reports for Lancaster Hockey Club.

18th February 2023

Kirkby Stephen 1s 5-5 Lancaster 1s

Lancaster travelled to Kirkby Stephen early on Saturday morning to play in their rearranged match from 21st January, a match that turned out to be a classic.

Kirkby Stephen were quick to start playing some skilful hockey that the Lancaster defence of Jayde Christeansen and Nina Helme tried to breakdown.

On the 12th minute mark Kirkby Stephen broke the deadlock from a penalty corner. The ball was hit off target to the left but the injector managed to get their stick to the ball deflecting it beyond the defence.

Three minutes later Lancaster played a quick free hit to Nicola Conway who fed the ball through to Ali Standeven-Johns; Standeven-Johns sprinted into the D and smashed the ball into the left corner of the goal leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

On the 23rd minute Lancaster were sloppy in defending their lines and the ball found itself into the D. Kirkby Stephen had a one on one with goalkeeper Leighan Bleasdale who urged them to shoot left but the player flicked the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Despite another set back Lancaster continued to press the Kirkby Stephen defence winning a number of penalty corners. Lancaster thought they had scored but the umpire disallowed for a stick tackle in the build-up.

Play settled down for 10 minutes before Lancaster again played a quick long ball to Standeven-Johns who found herself in a one on one with the goalkeeper and slotted it past her right foot. Lancaster thought they were going into half-time drawing but Kirkby Stephen attacked the right wing again. After a couple of mistimed tackles, the ball was fired into the D. Lancaster missed the chance to clear then ball and the Kirkby Stephen forward hit it first time through a crowded D into the goal on the stroke of half-time.

6 minutes into the second half, Standeven-Johns scored her hat trick by converting a penalty stroke. It only took Kirkby Stephen 4 minutes to reply by converting another penalty corner. This should have been ruled out as the ball did not leave the D but it was a well worked routine nonetheless.

Kirkby Stephen were awarded another contentious penalty corner for danger. Ella Bookless was quick to defend the initial strike and as Bleasdale was about to clear the rebound, stood on the post players stick taking her leg out of reach of the ball. A calamity giving Kirkby Stephen a 5-3 lead.

The game looked out of reach for Lancaster but on a final throw of the dice, replaced a defender with an additional attacking player. Lancaster piled on the pressure with Sarah Kettlewell and Christeansen driving forward.

Conway scored but as the ball was crossing the line the umpire blew his whistle for a penalty corner, disallowing another goal. Conway determined to get on the score sheet hammered the penalty corner past the goalkeeper to make it 5-4 with nine minutes to go.

Lancaster knowing the importance of gaining a point were relentless in charging at the defence. The ball made its way into the D and Conway was there to direct it at goal earning Lancaster a well-deserved equaliser in the final four minutes.

Team: Leighan Bleasdale (GK) (C), Nina Helme, Nicola Conway, Jayde Christeansen, Julie Walker, Holly Hunter, Zoe Oswald, Ella Bookless, Sarah Kettlewell, Ali Standeven-Johns, Hayley Standeven-Johns and Caitlin Ball

Goal Scorers: Ali Standeven-Johns x3 and Nicola Conway x2

Player of the Match: Ali Standeven-Johns

Match Sponsor: KB Electrical (North West) Ltd

Lancaster 2s 0-3 Brookfield 1s

No report received.

Player of the Match: Rebecca Airey

Match Sponsor: KB Electrical (North West) Ltd

Lancaster 3s 0-0 Chorley Phoenix 2s

Lancaster 3s welcomed Chorley Phoenix 2s this weekend, in what turned out to be a nail-biting game. Lancaster started off the brighter of the two teams with the midfield of Jayne Roper and Naomi Osborne driving Lancaster forward. Some great play upfront from Diana Taylor, Izzy Liver, Hope Morgan and Kathryn Ellison saw Lancaster earn a flurry of penalty corners, which the diving Chorley Phoenix goalkeeper kept out every time. Chorley Phoenix pushed back and the defence were soon called into action, Amanda Bamforth and Angie Evans-Hill were strong in the middle and prevented any dangerous attacks getting through.

The second half was more end to end, Lancaster’s half backs Chloe Shatford and Molly Chapman drove Lancaster forward, finding Emily Bamber-Dowthwaite in the D, only for her to see her shots saved or the whistle blown earning Lancaster more penalty corners. Goalkeeper Rebecca Halliwell had to stay switched on, despite having very little to do in the first half, Chorley Phoenix found themselves breaking more and more in the second and they earned a number of penalty corners. The Lancaster defence were equal to their routines and some great running to the top of the D prevented any dangerous shots being fired towards the Lancaster goal.

With 10 minutes to go, Lancaster pushed everyone forward hoping to find that elusive goal. With 1 minute to go Lancaster earned a penalty corner, by the time everyone was set up, the umpire blew the final whistle. Lancaster sent everyone up around the D in the hope that more bodies meant a greater chance of the ball finding its way to the back of the net. The first penalty corner hit another foot before it left the D, so a re-take was awarded. The ball was fired to the top of the D and was expertly struck, before it found its way into the back of the net. However, the whistle was blown to stop time again for the umpires to discuss the passage of play. The goal was overruled as the ball had not left the D, much to the dismay of Lancaster.

The game ended 0-0.

Team: Rebecca Halliwell, Angie Evans-Hill, Amanda Bamforth, Chloe Shatford, Molly Chapman, Jayne Roper, Emily Bamber-Dowthwaite, Kathryn Ellison, Izzy Liver, Hope Morgan, Naomi Osborne and Diana Taylor

Player of the Match: Molly Chapman and Angie Evans-Hill

Match Sponsor: KB Electrical (North West) Ltd