Guernsey’s O35s show their grit to earn home cup tie
A gritty performance ensured Guernsey progressed in the England Hockey Women’s Over-35 Tier One Cup on Sunday as they beat a strong Bishop’s Stortford side 2-1.
The Sarnians were pinned back in their defensive half for long periods of the game, but made the most of their attacking opportunities.
Against the run of play, the Greens scored first after 20 minutes.
Kath Guille burst through midfield and threaded through to Laura Campbell, who quickly fed the ball on to Bex Hubbard.
Hubbard somehow managed to find a gap between the back line and the keeper to sweep it into the goal.
However, the lead did not last long as Stortford were quick to respond with a great goal from a fast attack overloading the Guernsey defence.
But the goal of the match came a few minutes later.
Hubbard launched a sublime aerial ball from just inside the halfway line towards a speeding Suzi Druce. The ball bounced awkwardly through the defence, but Druce tracked it well and just managed to reach it in time to knock it in.
Guernsey were unlucky not to add a third goal just before half-time.
A Lucy Waldrom shot was stopped on the line by the chest of a Stortford player and a penalty stroke awarded. However, after a discussion between the umpires this was downgraded to a penalty corner, which went unconverted.
In the second half, the Guernsey defence managed to thwart several attacks, with player-of-the-match Emma Atkinson excellent in goal.
In a desperate attempt to get an equaliser, Stortford took off their keeper and played with 11 outfield players, but this was in vain, meaning a well-deserved victory for the Greens.
Their reward is a home third round tie later this month against Hampstead & Westminster O35s. Their first XI are a top team in the England Hockey Premier Division so it promises to be another tough test for the Guernsey side.
Guernsey Hockey would like to thank The Fort Group, Vitamini, Versa, HFL, Levanto and Guernsey Post for their support of women’s hockey.
Guernsey O35s team
Lucy Waldrom (captain), Emma Atkinson, Gemma Underwood, Mix Byrom, Lucy Slimm, Helen Richardson, Liz Dudin, Holly Stubbert-Malley, Kath Guille, Ellen Castleman, Suzi Druce, Bex Hubbard, Laura Campbell, Caryn Rieger-Vorster.
