Ladies claim fine draw (From Gazette Series)

Ladies claim fine draw

Hockey Friendly Wotton-under-Edge Ladies 1 Stroud Ladies II 1

WOTTON Ladies overcame the setback of conceding an early goal to secure a creditable draw in a game that they may feel they should have won.

Stroud were all over Wotton in the early stages as the hosts were slow to come out of the blocks.

With Wotton failing to clear their lines, it was no surprise when Stroud took the lead with the visiting forward keeping her head and finishing through a sea of bodies in a goalmouth melee.

Tammy Bradbury impressed as a makeshift centre back and with captain Vicky Carney leading from the front, Wotton began to get back into the game.

Wotton welcomed back Abi Ellis to the squad and she rotated well with sister Annabel up front. Together with the dangerous Becky Stockley, they provided a crucial outlet as Wotton began to win the midfield battle.

The game was now moving from end to end with both sides playing entertaining hockey but Wotton had to survive a series of penalty corners and were thankful for the vital interceptions of Rachel Nichols and goalkeeper Caroline Johnson to keep the deficit at 1-0.

Moving into the last quarter, Wotton pressed Stroud back into their own 25 and scored a deserved equaliser when Hayley Perrett converted a penalty corner with a fierce shot.

Perrett went close from another corner moments later and Stockley was denied when the Stroud goalkeeper left her line to smother the ball.

This was a highly encouraging performance from the ever-improving Wotton squad, played in the best of spirits with a sporting side from Stroud.