MINEHEAD Ladies hosted North Devon 2s for the last league match before the long Christmas break and gained a fine 6-1 hockey success.

Minehead took their time to settle, playing a new formation, but still managing to keep North Devon pinned in their half. Once settled, Minehead strung together good passages of play, with the ball pinging around through the midfield and the forwards. One such attack allowed Fenella Buller to find herself unmarked in the D and calmly put the ball past the North Devon keeper. The score was 1-0 going into the half-time break.

After a tactical pep-talk at half-time Minehead started the second half with fire in their bellies. A quick sequence of passes from the midfield found Zoey Cape in the D and she slotted the ball in for her first of the game.

North Devon found themselves firmly pinned in their half once again, with any attacks quickly dealt with by a strong Minehead defence. Another flurry of quick passing from Minehead saw the ball deflected up into the air in the D where it hung long enough for Hannah Sparks to position herself to volley the ball spectacularly into the top of the net.

This was hailed the goal of the season so far. A third goal of the half came quickly after with an accurate cross from Kate Lancaster finding Cape on the P-spot for her second. It was only a minute later that Cape completed her hat-trick with a finely taken strike that beat the keeper fair and square.

A rare break from North Devon caught the Minehead defence napping and they gained a consolation goal, pulling back the score to 5-1. With less than five minutes to go, Kate Lancaster was once again in possession. Another of her effective crosses found Amy Tisshaw on the P-spot who swept the ball past the keeper to make the final score 6-1 to the hosts. The Techniquip Player of the Match went to Kate Lancaster.

This strong performance has boosted Minehead into sixth position in Sedgemoor Division 1, with 11 points, just above Honiton Hornets who are hot on Minehead’s heels, with only one point in it, and will be visiting Minehead on 25th January (10.30am start) for a return match.

With a 2-2 draw in their encounter earlier in the season, this could be one to watch! A home club match tomorrow (7th) at 11am start will see past and present players enjoy a social game, and enable all to celebrate a half-season to be proud of. Spectators are always welcome and much appreciated.

Minehead; Jan Weetch, Tracey Bailey, Jess Koppa, Charlotte Hirons, Hannah Cornish, Molly Rucklidge, Amy Tisshaw, Sarah Hayes, Gemma Chilcott, Fenella Buller, Kate Lancaster, Zoey Cape, Beth Thompson, Hannah Sparks