Lancaster 1 vs Kirkby Stephen

Kirkby Stephen 1s          5-5        Lancaster 1s

Lancaster travelled to Kirkby Stephen early on Saturday morning to play in their rearranged match from 21^st 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 12^th 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. 3 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 23^rd minute Lancaster were sloppy in defending their lines and the ball found itself into the D. Kirkby Stephen had a 1 on 1 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 1 on 1 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 hattrick 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 9 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 4 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