Worthy win for the Garstang

Garstang Ladies Hockey Club hosted their old foes Clitheroe in a crucial top-of-the-table clash and came out on top 1-0.
Rebecca Worthington of Garstang LadiesRebecca Worthington of Garstang Ladies
Rebecca Worthington of Garstang Ladies

The Reds started well and after only four minutes Christy Martin placed a perfect pass from the right wing to Josie Rice at the top of the D, who could not get power on her shot.

Some great play in the Clitheroe D led to a penalty corner, and a flick to Lyndsey Hayes on the left post somehow did not go to stick and went wide.

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Rebecca Worthington took on duties up front and after some great teamwork in front of goal, flicked the ball over a diving Clitheroe keeper – but over the bar.

The pressure eventually told when Garstang took the lead after they won their first penalty corner.

The initial shot from Alice Matthews was saved but Rice fed the ball back into Worthington, who put the ball home for a deserved lead.

Clitheroe broke back well and Reds captain Donna Richardson made a crucial interception at the top of the D to stop a possible goal.

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In the second half, Garstang were attacking well and a great intercept of a clearance hit by Rice forced a run and clear from the Clitheroe keeper.

Clitheroe threw caution to the wind in pursuit of an equaliser and won a penalty corner 16 minutes into the second half.

But the solid backline of Jen Moss, Lindsay Norton, Donna Richardson and Debs Huyton did not give an inch.

Inevitably, Garstang started to catch them on the break and on 19 minutes, and Martin rounded the keeper, only to have her shot stopped by a foot on the line.

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Di Roe made a good penalty flick to the keeper’s right but she had guessed the direction and made a good diving hand save.

Minutes later, a Roe drive on the D, supported by Martin, Summers and Lyndsey Hayes, led to another penalty corner.

A good move with the ball saw the ball arrive at Martin on the post, but hit a Garstang foot on its way.

The Reds won another penalty corner when Martin was shoved at the top of the D by a defender.

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On 25 minutes, Roe made another break and won a penalty corner after a cross went to a defender’s foot.

Further good breaks by Roe and Worthington were all to no avail as they failed to find the killer second goal. It did not matter as Garstang held on to their slender lead.

Elsewhere in the division, Longridge ladies moved up to third after thrashing Wigan ladies 14-0 at home.

Jenny Key and coptain Nicki Wilcox bagged four goals apiece to set up the emphatic victory.

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