Hockey
Cool Headington saves the day

Bretforton Ladies 1 Wootton Bassett Ladies 0

West Clubs Women's Hockey League North Division

BRETFORTON Ladies made hard work of their first league game after the Christmas break on Saturday, but they managed to get 2013 off to a winning start thanks to a penalty flick.

The first half saw a lacklustre Bret, although enjoying the majority of possession, fail to convert their continued pressure into goals as a mixture of wayward shooting and a great display by the Wootton keeper kept the Vale forwards frustrated.

Wootton did conjure up a chance to take the lead as one pass sneaked through the otherwise awesome Bret defence and resulted in a one-on-one situation in which Bret keeper Vicky Watkins came out on top with a fine save to keep her side level heading into the break.

A stirring half time team talk by caretaker manager Julie Stowe saw Bret get their mojo back in the second half and the girls in pink started to move the ball around with more fluidity and their assured, accurate passing piled yet more pressure on the Wootton team.

Bret got the breakthrough they deserved when a Wootton player was seen to deliberately use the back of her stick to stop a shot on goal and the ensuing penalty flick was brilliantly converted by Sue Headington to give the Vale girls a slim advantage.

Bret's brick wall defence stood firm and even though the final play of the game was to defend two penalty corners the Pink Ladies were not in the mood to concede and drop points.

The result sees them stay top of the North Division by four points and their success was very much aided by their brilliant supporters who braved the freezing conditions, Julie Stowe and the match ball sponsors Damon Hall Art Studio of Worcester.

The player of the match was Karen Fynn and plonker was Julie 'AA' Hall.

Tomorrow Bretforton Ladies visit Cheltenham CS.

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