Hockey: Tip-top show brings Pickering the points (From Gazette & Herald)

Hockey: Tip-top show brings Pickering the points

9:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

A BEST performance of the season brought Pickering a 3-0 win at Ben Rydding in division five of the Yorkshire Women’s League.

The victory lifted the team to fifth with a game in hand .

Despite a shaky start, Pickering soon got into their stride with some quick passing splitting the defence for Kat Hardwick to find the back of the net.

Emma Hoyle, Sophie Gilderdale and Emily Hose intercepted passes well in midfield to control the game and some effective overlaps from Hannah Bastow meant they outnumbered the hosts’ defence to create more chances.

Some great individual skill from Hardwick down the left rewarded her with a second goal, and this was quickly followed by a rebound effort from Lisa Hornby to give Pickering a 3-0 interval lead.

The away team continued to dominate the second half with Eleanor Mawsom getting into some good positions on the right, but the forwards were unable to convert their chances.

The final 10 minutes saw sustained pressure from Ben Rhydding down their right but player-of-thematch Kat Smith tackled strongly to frustrate the home winger and, despite several short corners for the hosts, Pickering’s defence held up well with some important saves from Jan Wilkinson.

Helen Evans and Leonie Ransome provided the necessary cover at the back to help maintain
the clean sheet.