Danby Ladies Hockey Club work hard for 3-1 win at Newcastle Medics

Danby started with a strong attacking side with some great switches to Alice Hogarth on the right.

The midfield worked hard to get the ball into the attacking D where Danby’s centre-forwards were persistently challenging the defenders to create chances on goal.

The Medics keeper held them off until a break from Danby saw Katie Hodgson take advantage of the keeper on the floor to skilfully slot Danby’s first goal away.

A strong press from Medics saw some quick passes on their attack. This brought penalty corners and despite strong performances from Pippa Middlemas, the Medics used the penalty corner to their advantage, a strike from the top of the D unfortunately deflecting off a Danby defender and in to make it 1-1 at half-time.

After a positive half-time talk, great runs from forward Millie Cook saw Danby on the attack. Medics fought back and this saw the player of the match Christine Tarrant put some great tackles in on the left side. Chances on goal for the Medics saw Josie Bowes calmly fend off any balls, putting some great saves in to allow Middlemas and Tarrant to work in unison to hold off the defence.

This allowed some great play down the left wing to midfielder Sarah Thompson, who laid it off to Lily Harland who worked hard to create space in the middle with accurate balls feeding through the Medics defence to the forwards. This allowed sisters Bronwyn and Katie Hodgson to work as a duo, drawing the keeper out for Bronwyn Hodgson to hit Danby’s second goal on 40 minutes.

Danby’s midfield began to tire and this allowed Medics to attack quickly. Midfielders Rosie Hogarth and Kathryn Hogarth had to work hard to mark players and shut down chances of a goal from the opposition.

Substitutions allowed for fresh legs and this saw Kathryn Hogarth work together with Katie Hodgson to take the ball up the field. Alice Hogarth created some great play down the right wing, feeding the ball out wide to Debbie Callaghan.

Medics challenged the attack and this resulted in a hit out for them, where another great run saw Cook expertly intercept and gain possession in the attacking 25.

The ball was played wide to winger Alice Hogarth, who sent a strong ball into the penalty area, where Bronwyn Hodgson slotted Danby’s third goal to earn a well-deserved 3-1 win.

Player of the Match was Tarrant who put relentless accurate tackles in to fend off the opposition. Hard work from Cook meant she also received four votes for POM alongside S Thompson and B Hodgson who also gained a vote each.