With only 3 weeks left in the league, the pressure is on for teams to take the points to secure titles and avoid relegation.
In Ladies Premiership, Haldane Fisher Valkyrs made a blistering start to their clash with Cronkbourne Bacchas, striking in just the third minute. The ball was worked neatly through midfield to Becci Pate, who drove into the D and picked out Eleanor Devereau. Devereau connected cleanly on the volley, slotting the ball into the back of the net to give Valkyrs an early lead.
The pressure continued soon after, with the Valkyrs defence again finding Pate in space. This time she finished the move herself, calmly slotting home to double the advantage and put Bacchas on the back foot.
Bacchas responded quickly. A long ball from Lou Corkill found Leah Mellor, whose first effort was superbly saved by Valkyrs goalkeeper Ellie Burns. However, Mellor reacted fastest to the rebound and fired home to bring Bacchas back into the contest. Valkyrs had a chance to extend their lead just before halftime after winning a flick, but were unable to convert.
Bacchas emerged strongly after the break and began to turn the momentum. Lucy Cartwright found space on the edge of the Valkyrs D and fired a powerful shot into the backboard to level the score. The pressure continued and Emma Courtie’s work in the D allowed Mellor to slot home her second and Bacchas’ third.
Valkyrs responded with a well-taken short corner, Andrea Littlejohns striking firmly from the top. Both sides pushed for a winner, but the match finished level at 3-3.
PotM – Imogen Corke (Haldane Fisher Valkyrs A) and Sam Hassall (Cronkbourne Bacchas A)
In chilly conditions as the sun dipped for the 5pm slot, Vikings, sponsored by Canaccord Wealth and Appleby, started brightly and applied early pressure. Their persistence paid off in the 11th minute when a short corner was converted by Ellie Robb to give Vikings the lead in this Ladies Division 1 Match.
Castletown, sponsored by J Qualtrough & Sons Ltd., responded with some promising breaks, but Vikings worked tirelessly to clear their defensive circle, with centre back Helen Egan making several important interventions to break up Castletown attacks.
Castletown keeper Holly Norbury produced a number of excellent saves to keep her side in the game. Vikings earned another short corner towards the end of the first half but were unable to extend their advantage before the break.
After half-time, Castletown created a chance following great play from Jade Le Moal, winning a short corner that was well saved by the Vikings goalkeeper. Seven minutes into the half, Vikings struck again from a short corner through Morgan Braidwood.
Norbury continued to impress in goal, while defender Jo Swales made a vital goal-line save during another Vikings short corner. Sustained pressure eventually brought Vikings a third, with Braidwood scoring again from a short corner.
Castletown finished strongly and won a short corner on the final whistle. After a clash on the line that resulted in a penalty flick, Sophie Phythian calmly converted to give Castletown a late consolation, making the final score was 3-1 to Vikings Ladies B.
PotM – Tara Mitchell (Castletown Ladies C, sponsored by J Qualtrough & Sons Ltd.) and Abi Harvey and Amilie Cocker (Vikings Ladies B, sponsored by Canaccord Wealth and Appleby)
Two matches in U15 Mixed division on Saturday. Swales Flooring Harlequins met Ramsey Rogues and Rascals and after a fairly evenly balanced first half, Harlequins put in an improved second half performance which led more pressure on goal, keeping the Ramsey keeper, Arabella Russell, busy and saw her pull off multiple top saves to keep the scoreline down.
Good defensive play from Tallulah Wilson and Hailey Henrico helped Harlequins keep a clean sheet and goals from Jack Barlow (2), Callum Leslie (2), Benji Barber and Zach Barlow saw them take the match 6-0.
PotM – Jack Barlow (Harlequins) and Arabella Russell (Ramsey Rogues and Rascals)
In the other U15 match, Vikings played Bacchas. Great play from Vikings led to them winning 6-0 the match through goals from Lilah Cretney, Theo Robertson (3), Dillan Pullman and Archie Kaighin.
Special mention to Cronkbourne Bacchas keeper, Myles Sevenson, for stepping up to play in nets for the first time, pulling off some great saves and commanding his D.
PotM – Letitia Godimho (Vikings) and Maixa Singh (Bacchas)
Thank you very much to Paul Hatton for allowing us to use his photographs and to Valkyrs Ladies A and Castletown Ladies C for supplying match reports.
