Berkeley Division 3

Wotton 3rd 4 Avonmouth 0

WOTTON started strongly and immediately put Avonmouth under pressure. They kept possession as they worked their way forward to an early penalty corner against the Avonmouth team.

The injection came strong to the top from Ming Green to a waiting Joely Brewer who slid the ball neatly to the left post for Ming Green to slot in past the opposing defenders.

Avonmouth restarted with Wotton in high spirits after their early goal. Another wave of attack from Wotton resulted in another penalty corner.

No result came from the corner and the ball was removed from the D only to be forced back in and sent to the backboard by Katy Cruickshank.

Avonmouth restarted again before the ball was intercepted once more by the strengthening Wotton team.

The ball moved forward with excellent triangular play from Cruickshank, Olivia Green and Brewer. Dani Bennet and Elodie Sparrow were relentless on the wings and yet another penalty corner was awarded.

This time the injection from Brewer came directly to Lucy Waite who took a stunning hit that Avonmouth were powerless to stop. With only minutes of the first half remaining, Avonmouth began to fight back.

Their runs down the wing with strong passes began to eat away at the Wotton defence. Sarah Thorogood stepped up in defence to cease the rush of attack and player-of-the-match Jane Pascoe produced a series of perfectly timed tackles to once again stop Avonmouth in their tracks.

With seconds of the first half to play, they finally reached the D only to hear the sound of the whistle.

The second half started with a more determined Avonmouth team. Wotton were under more pressure but the ball was repeatedly stopped, passed and redirected by Green to the free Wotton players.

Avonmouth continued to attack but were unsuccessful, often losing the ball off the back line resulting in a strong hit-out from Waite aimed for Wotton’s captain, Claire Morton, who nearly always held a clear area adjacent to the D.

Wotton were on the attack again and soon a powerful cross from Sparrow that was sent to its target by Katherine Edwards increased their lead. Wotton continued to attack but a sudden turn over and breakaway from two Avonmouth players sent the defence on a quick withdrawal. The two players entered the D for a shot against goalkeeper Elysia Davis-Evans but once again time was against them and the final whistle blew before they could take their shot.