Garstang made a bright start and their pace and passing skills were self-evident. After only 6 minutes Garstang won a penalty corner (PC). Lyndsey Hayes (Cookie) made a quick pinpoint injection to Alice Matthews who hit a cannon shot across the Keeper that Kiery Horne latched onto on the far side board to the delight of the Garstang fans. Garstang piled on the pressure and Cookie made a great through pass to Di Roe. Di took the ball to the back of the Dee and made a neat cross to Kiery Horne on the far post for a simple tap in; 2 – 0 and much rejoicing in the Garstang camp. Garstang were on fire and Di Roe started to make her signature dazzling high speed runs from right defence showing the 4th team youngsters on the side lines how to bewitch defenders. Garstang won another PC and a high drag flick from Fran Summers was knocked forward by the Clitheroe Keeper but did not go to stick. A lively Jen Moss made some good incursions to the top of the Dee but her crosses just would not go to stick. Clitheroe showed their mettle by coming back hard at Garstang and a classic mid field battle ensued. Newly injury free, hyper fit, lean mean Josie Rice was prominent for Garstang leavened with determined precise play from Cookie. Jude Chapman was also there providing her usual calm adult supervision; - as to be expected of a teacher. Garstang were playing some great quick passing and flowing hockey but Clitheroe’s powerful forwards looked dangerous on the break and their left defence were strong; - just stemming the red tide. On twenty minutes Clitheroe won a PC and a good shot was neatly kicked away by Garstang Keeper Alanis Parkinson. Garstang inevitably slowed their pace and the last ten minutes of the half were even balanced with both the defences clearing well. Defender Donna Richardson (Capt) was her usual dominant self at the top of the Garstang Dee aided and abetted by ever steady Lindsay Thornhill. Donna made a vital clearance to the side off Alanis’s pads to avert the most dangerous Clitheroe attack on goal and the half petered out with honours even.

Clitheroe started the second half better than Garstang and won a PC after only two minutes. Alanis made a stylish foot save clearing to the side and the danger was gone. Garstang gradually worked up steam and after six minutes Gemma Trickett (Tricky) made a wonderful surprise high flick from near the top of the Dee to score; 3- 0. Garstang started to enjoy themselves with well co-ordinated team attacks on the Clitheroe Dee but now everyone wanted to score with a high flick and the Clitheroe Keeper was righteously determined to avoid getting caught out again. Two near misses for Garstang came and went and Josie tried a spectacular full length diving deflection that came close to another goal. Garstang started to catch a tiring Clitheroe on the break and two one on ones were well defended by the Clitheroe Keeper. On twelve minutes some excellent passing took the ball to Kiery on the left post and she slotted the ball home neatly; 4 – 0. Clitheroe made a good break only to be thwarted by the ‘Great Wall of Donna’ at the top of the Garstang Dee. Garstang were now going in all guns blazing and on twenty minutes Kiery joined the high flick Club only for the Keeper to make yet another good save. Rebecca Worthington made several chances but it was just not her day. Much to the dismay of a tiring Clitheroe Kiery went supersonic to chase and catch a ball down the wing with her cross coming near to conversion. A couple of minutes later Jude Chapman broke in to the Dee and a strong lifted shot hit the keeper, Tricky tried again and then Kiery swept in to drill the ball home from close range for her hat trick; 5 – 0. Rebecca made a strong break in to the Clitheroe Dee for a one and one on the keeper only to be tripped from behind. The umpire awarded a PC (cue grumpiness amongst the Garstang supporters) and Clitheroe cleared the ball well. To add insult to injury Donna was shoulder charged by a powerful, tall Clitheroe forward on her way to the Dee and was awarded… a free hit (more grumpiness). Clitheroe fought back to win a final PC that was cleared by Garstang. With three minutes to go a good Garstang break with multiple passes ended with another Josie spectacular dive across the penalty spot and Kiery on the Clitheroe post neatly steering the ball home for her fourth goal. Garstang 6 to nil at full time.

This was bravura performance by Garstang showing great team quick passing and stick skills for a strong win after last week’s defeat and a good talking to from Coach David Gee. Clitheroe had some strong defenders and quick physical forwards but were clearly not their old selves. To their credit they never gave up against the red storm and always looked dangerous on the break. Their Keeper made some great saves and had to be their man of the match. I do hope they do not get relegated as they are better than most in the bottom half of the Division. For Garstang Kiery Horne was the key weapon and undoubted Man of the Match.