2s Bounce Back with Dominant Performance

After a tough result from the day before Kingsbridge and Salcombe 2s arrived with a new attitude for this game because they had played so well and learnt a lot about their own game against a higher league opposition.
Returning to friendly Sunday league action against OPM 2s the Cougars set out to gain a win they deserved.

Having the push back from the start was a great positive for the local side as it meant they could attack from the off and they applied pressure on the Plymouth based sides defence and gained a short corner in the first few minutes and debut player Violet Moore was unlucky not to score from her straight strike.

This didn’t affect the Cougars mental game and they continued to press high not allowing OPM much room to get rid of the ball and with persistent hassling in the D it wasn’t long before they upgraded for another short corner.
After practising in training Lottie Sutherland took the initial shot aimed towards the near post for pusher outer Vice Captain Lauren Darbyshire to tap in past a stranded keeper.

Kingsbridge and Salcombe were playing some great hockey with midfield players Captain Laura Favis, Cara Yeoman, Darbyshire, Sutherland and Katie Flintham who were able to help their forwards Charlotte Budgen and Moore advance time and time again into the away sides D with good strong passes.
The Cougars were on form and it wasn’t long until they were awarded another short corner – this time Moore took the strike but once again Darbyshire was in the right place to slot it into the back of the goal.

Confidence was high so the defence were able to push further up the pitch but defenders Anna McCabe, Katie Merrin and Charlie Matheson still had to be alert to long balls that OPM were trying to play to their forwards.
As the first half was coming to an end the Kingsbridge side managed to turn the ball over, where Budgen played a perfect ball to team mate Nicky Sheppard in the D who coolly put it past the keeper – much to the delight of the supporting crowd and with that the first half ended 3-0.

Coach Chris Guard congratulated the young side on a great half and encouraged them to keep up the intensity and to keep working hard off the ball for each other because that’s what was making the difference.

The Cougars began the second half by being assertive and early on Sheppard stepped up to give Budgen a good pass who managed to get her body in position after receiving the ball with her back towards goal then slipped it past the OPM keeper.
OPM didn’t really trouble to Cougars keeper Erin Murgatroyd, who so far this season in league competition hasn’t conceded a goal.

Midfielder Laura Tregelles put in a good spell linking well with Moore and making good tackles.
Kingsbridge and Salcombe had to work hard for the next 10 minutes as they appeared to go into a bit of a slow patch and with Captain Favis being aware of this she encouraged the girls to get louder and not long after they won another short corner. Sutherland lined up her shot which Darbyshire expertly deflected past the keeper to give her the first hat-trick of the season.

Although the Cougars were 5-0 up there was a feeling that it wasn’t over yet and OPM made them work hard to get near the goal.
With 10 minutes left on the clock it was Favis’ turn to add her name to the score sheet with lightning reflexes as the ball came up into the air and she diverted down and into the goal – one of the best goals of the season so far!
Only a minute late Moore was showing why she was picked for the team after she battled in the D to gain the ball and played it to Nina Hardy who scrambled for the final touch to sweep it past the keeper.
Kingsbridge and Salcombe played some lovely hockey until the final whistle which saw it finish 7-0.

After the match at teas the squad voted for player of the match and proving what a great game everyone played there were votes for 6 different players and it came down to a tie for Captain Laura Favis and Vice Captain Lauren Darbyshire for their tireless commitment during the game.
The club would like to thank Friends Cycles and Motorcycles for sponsoring the match ball and to all the supporters who came to watch the best game of the season so far.

The 2s take a well deserved break this weekend but Kingsbridge and Salcombe 1s are back in league action travelling to Yeovil to play Yeovil and Sherborne in the hope of getting back to winning ways. Push back at 11.30, post code BA21 4AW all supporter very welcome.