Garstang 1 vs Liverpool Sefton 2

On Sat 01 Oct Garstang 1st played their second North Div 2 game of the season against Liverpool Sefton 2nds. This was a key match for Garstang given their uncertain recent form and the absence of three key players plus Keeper Sarah Skelton out for the season through injury.

Both teams started well with good stick skills and even slightly wayward passes were being snapped up. Di Roe put early pressure on the Sefton Goal Keeper (GK) following a good pass by Jen Moss. The Garstang defence were playing well and had to in order to stem some fast young Sefton forwards. Garstang conceded an early pair of Penalty Corners (PCs) and Di again did the needful with a good clear over the left 23-meter line. An evenly balanced battle royal ensued in mid field with Garstang inching ahead through the pace of Di and Kiery Horne. Lyndsey Hayes made a brilliant interception after 13 minutes and was filling the gap left by her injured partner in crime Josie Rice. On 16 minutes Garstang made their pressure tell when Gemma Trickett nailed a shot to the backboard following a neat pass across the Keeper by Reb Worthington. 1 – 0 to Garstang.

Garstang’s passes were flowing but they were not dominant as a strong Sefton GK was playing a great game making strong runs off her line to clear the single point penetrations her strong defenders had limited Garstang to. Sefton were dangerous on the counter attack and Lindsay Thornhill and Georgie Brumwell made several good clearances from the top of the Dee and along the back line. After 24 minutes Rachel Roe (on loan from the 2nd XI) came on as a sub and her pace nearly lead to glory in a good break across the top of the Dee. Fran Summers was asserting herself up front and a superb full stretch interception nearly unlocked the Sefton defence. A great through ball by Kiery Horne just did not go to stick and Garstang were toting up their near misses. On 26 minutes Garstang thought they had scored with a Kiery Horne shot across the Dee but the umpire deemed the shot as being from outside the Dee. Sefton won a PC but Garstang cleared their lines well. Garstang broke back and missed an open goal when the Sefton GK went to ground too far out. Moments later Gemma Trickett had a great chance on the break in a one on one with the Sefton GK.
Garstang seemed to slow for the last few minutes of the half and new young GK Alanis Parkinson made a good step across to save their bacon as the half wound out.

Garstang started the second half at a slower tempo and Sefton sensing their chance put a lot of pressure on a side that was tiring with few subs. Kiery Horne started to break their hegemony on the left wing with some well placed aerials and Jen Moss caught the eye with some gritty defensive work. After 7 minutes Garstang at last broke in to the Sefton Dee but their GK again made a superb running interception to clear her lines. In the Garstang defence Captain Donna Richardson was omnipresent at the top of the Dee making crucial interceptions with the help of Lindsay Thornhill. On 12 minutes Di Roe again cleared the ball from the Garstang Dee and moments later the Garstang GK;- young Alanis made a good save on her right post with her accustomed balletic style. Lyndsey Hayes went into overdrive in mid-field and Garstang started to hold the mid field better and to put greater pressure on Sefton GK who again excelled herself. Garstang won their first PC but unfortunately Reb Worthington just could not get power and direction on her shot. Garstang again started to pass well but Sefton were not dominant and won a PC on 26 minutes that was well defended by Garstang. The ball went down field and on the recovery Garstang put together a superbly worked goal with the ball going from Di to Kiery to Di to Reb to Kiery to Gemma who fed Fran on the far post for a well deserved goal;- 2 – 0 to Garstang. Sefton won a repeated PC on 33 minutes and at the second Garstang knocked the shot into the air for a skilful young forward to slam the ball home from shoulder height at the right post giving the Garstang GK no chance; - 2 – 1 at the end.

Garstang played some excellent passing hockey in this game and had to defend well against a well-drilled Sefton attack. The Sefton GK and defence were excellent and were only beaten by two well-taken goals. The absence of key players through injury and a wedding severely tested the team’s fitness and mental endurance. Well done for a hard earned win.

Player of the Match - Lyndsey Hayes