West Women’s Hockey League

Berkeley Division One

Wotton-under-Edge 1 Yate 2nds 2

DESPITE a spirited and efficient performance, Wotton succumbed to a late Yate winner in a thrilling local derby on Saturday.

The balance of play in the first half was fairly even, but Wotton conceded at a breakaway after a sizzling penalty corner shot from Becky Chalmers was stopped on the line and fed out by a defender.

Wotton dominated the second half and pulled level when Tori Adams converted one of the many attacks with a well-taken push shot into the goal.

Ellie Stimson, Sharron Bates and Eilidh Rogers showed great creativity in the attacks.

Wotton's positional play was greatly improved, responding to the challenge from the stiffer opposition, and they looked like taking honours as wave upon wave of attack was rebuffed by the beleaguered Yate defence.

Then moments from the end Yate converted their second penalty corner of the match and held on for the win.

It was a disappointing result for Wotton, but the team will be pleased with their return to form and cohesion after a number of less-convincing performances in fixtures since Christmas.

* With a growing injury list, Wotton did well to field three men’s teams on Saturday and despite this the first and second teams produced stunning performances. The firsts continued its great run of form in holding Welsh super-club Cardiff and Metropolitan’s promotion-bound thirds to a thrilling 2-2 draw at home.

The seconds had four-goal hero Joe Barnes to thank for a breathtaking 6-3 victory away to City of Bath fourths.

A much-depleted thirds looked as if they might hang on to a 1-1 away draw against a fiery Winchcombe first team, but the non-stop defensive work took its toll and they shipped three goals in the last 15 minutes to go down 4-1.