Garstang Ladies settle for a draw

Garstang Ladies Hockey Club hosted Pendle in a crucial North Division Two top-of-the-table clash, a highly competitive game which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Alice Matthews on the ball, with Lyndsey Hayes in supportAlice Matthews on the ball, with Lyndsey Hayes in support
Alice Matthews on the ball, with Lyndsey Hayes in support

Garstang started at a tremendous pace and they were at the top of their 
game.

Pendle had adequate early warning when Rebecca Worthington and Fran Summers made good 
early breaks including forcing a foot save from the Pendle keeper.

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After 25 minutes Christy Martin made an interception of a Pendle defence pass and fed Worthington.

She broke into the D at an angle, drew the keeper before lifting the ball into the empty net.

Pendle put the pressure on for five minutes and nearly scored on the break but Garstang came back well and Worthington’s outstretched stick would have added to their score.

Pendle started the second half well and won their first penalty corner after four minutes, but Sarah-Jane Skelton made a good save.

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Two minutes later Garstang won their first penalty corner and after the first shot was blocked, Lyndsey Hayes fired in a second from the right that the keeper just failed to stop in a goalmouth melee, which made it 2- 0 to Garstang.

Martin and Worthington made a great break two minutes later and came close to scoring. After 10 minutes, Pendle got their form back as Garstang tired and piled on the pressure.

At the first of six penalty corners, a slip shot was well hit to Skelton’s right and thudded home to pull a goal back for the visitors.

At the third penalty corner, another slip shot went to Skelton’s left for the equaliser to level the scores.

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Then Pendle almost won it when after the sixth penalty corner, Skelton made a great diving save.

Garstang then threw off their shackles to take the game back to Pendle for the last 10 minutes, but were unable to find a winning goal.

The Reds’ Josephine Rice said: “I suspect Pendle were shocked by the pace, skill and determination of Garstang.

“Pendle are a really good strong side and came back well from two goals down in the second half through their outstanding forward.

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“We continued our good form, having dented Pendle’s perfect record, but sadly the injury list is growing and we will need to take advantage of the Christmas break to regroup for the second half of the season.

“The player of the match was awarded to Donna Richardson, who was simply the best defender on the pitch and in the division.”

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