Solid Display sees Cougars take the Points

It’s always interesting when the second half of the season gets going and you start facing the same teams again and you think about the previous results. When Kingsbridge and Salcombe last faced Isca 3rd team back in October it was all square at 1-1 so going into this match at the weekend the Cougars knew they would have to up their game if they were going
to take those 3 vital points.

The match started with Isca pushing into the D quickly and forcing an early clearance by goal keeper Claire Guard but the Cougars soon counteracted and managed to upgrade for a short corner with 11 minutes played. A strong push out from forward Chloe Harvey meant that the ball speed was fast and gave Louise Read plenty of time to line up her shot and make the ball fly past the right foot of the away keeper, giving the Cougars an early lead.
This helped boost moral amongst the team and gave them the edge against the travelling side. Working as a unit, some strong runs from defender Emily Read helped to link the midfield with Fern Tucker pulling wide as an option or Esme Ansley in the middle was also free to receive the ball which pulled Isca all over the pitch, this created space for the ball to be played into, allowing forwards Laura Kerly and Helen Symons time to drive the ball up the pitch.
Isca had moments of applying their own pressure so defenders Fi Wadey and Rachel Roberts had to stand their ground and make crucial tackles to stop the Exeter side advancing.
Substitutions in hockey are vital and can really help keep the flow of the game going, with Carmen Ansley and Tess Baker slotting in where ever needed and injecting fresh legs to help the squad to try and increase their lead.
Harvey and Bex Darke connected fantastically down the left hand side of the pitch by giving and moving for each other to eliminate several of Iscas players. Darke needed to take a short break after taking a stick to her head but wasn't off the pitch long after being assessed and given the all clear to continue.
Isca although making several attempts to get into the Cougars D didn’t manage to gain any short corners in the first half which is a real credit to the defence for protecting their feet.
The first half was nearing the end but their was enough time for Symons to carry the ball towards the goal and for Harvey to lead out and pick the ball up and sneak it past the advancing keeper making it 2-0 going into the break.

Captain Wadey gave a direct half time team talk and spoke about the areas we needed to work harder at but also to continue to help each other.

Isca started the second half with more tempo which made the Cougars a little unsettled so communication was key to making sure everyone was doing their roles. Esme Ansley helped to lessen the pressure by launching her aerial passes and Symons hassled every player for the ball but the Exeter team managed to get through and gained several short corners but the defence were quick off the line to get the ball away.
The game became more end to end. Kerly ran the line on more than one occasion crossing the ball hard into the D but the Cougars were unlucky not to connect. The Isca goal keeper made several great saves throughout the match and the score line would have been a lot more had she not been there.
Isca kept the pressure going until the final whistle and won a short corner just as the game was due to finish but it still had to played but again the defence were quick and gave them no chance of getting a goal.
The Cougars defence played their socks off and gained them their first clean sheet of the season and the vital 3 points they needed to remain 3rd in the league.
Player of the match was voted for and awarded to Fi Wadey for her amazing strength and distribution in defence.

Thank you to Scrum V Catering at KRFC for the much needed food after the game, to Hatch Marquee Hire Ltd for being the match ball sponsor and to DHUA for the appointment of the 2 umpires who officiating the match. As always a huge thank you to all the supporters who wrapped up warm to come and cheer the team on. The 1st team now take a break but the 2nd team are in league action against Plym Valley, push back 11oclock at Lipson on Sunday.