Defence lays foundation for victory in Winchester

A ROUTE through the English Hockey Vase draw appears to be opening up nicely for Guernsey after a Bianca Symes, pictured, strike was enough to beat Winchester 1-0 on Sunday.

Despite a dominant first-half display away from home by the Sarnians, it needed Symes' well-taken second-half effort and a superb defensive display to knock out last year's Hampshire League champions.

But with that potential banana skin out of the way, last year's losing semi-finalists have been handed what on paper looks a kind draw, as they travel to Croydon & Old Whitgiftian in round two.

Guernsey faced the same opposition last year and strolled their way to a 10-1 thrashing, although Sarnian coach David Wray is not going to get complacent.

'If their team hasn't changed since then, I think the girls would fancy their chances of getting through,' he said.

'But the key that day was getting a couple of early goals to set up the match, so if that doesn't happen this time, then who knows.'