Gillingham Ladies 2nd XI 2-3 Swanage and Wareham Ladies 2nd XI

Swans Ladies 2nds traveled to Shaftesbury on the final day of the 2015/16 Hockey season to take on Gillingham in a winner takes all Channel 2 Division championship decider. Swans started the day top of the League with Gillingham second, 2 points behind needing to win to overtake Swans.

Swans started in confident fashion pushing forward in wave after wave of attack, Gillingham seemingly overwhelmed by the pressure. The Gillingham goalkeeper however had other ideas and saved shot after shot for the first 15 minutes. Swans continued to attack wide through Evie Binns on the right wing, Liz Goldsack on the left wing and Jess and Gill Ashworth probing time and time again in the middle. The pressure finally told with Goldsack striking a goal front scramble firmly onto the back board. Encouraged Swans continued to attack camping in the Gillingham 23 metre area, in a one sided contest.

The Gillingham defence and keeper bravely battled to keep Swans at bay but couldn't prevent Ailsa Burt sweeping the ball into the goal from another well worked attack. Short corner after short corner were awarded to Swans but they failed to take advantage of the opportunities and it was just before the half time whistle before a clever slip from a short corner was converted by J Ashworth. Rampant Swans playing some wonderful flowing passing hockey, the half time score 0-3 to Swans, but was it all over?

Gillingham must have had a first class talking to at half time and it was clearly not all over as they came out of the blocks at the starting whistle like a whirlwind! It was a great fightback and put Swans in somewhat of a tailspin for some 20 minutes. Gillingham swarmed forward putting huge pressure on Swans defence and midfield and were awarded their first short corner and scored with a great move. Buoyed Gillingham continued to attack, Swans tackled and passed poorly giving the ball away on a number of occasions, and a few minutes later Gillingham scored again, the pressure was really on Swans now and it was time for some character and resilience to shine through.

Swans suddenly started to talk to one another organising the midfield in defence to absorb the attacks, not a mean feat after a season where they had rarely been so tested. Nikki Grenville-Cleave, in goal covered attacks in the 'D' as never before this season. Sophie Mehendran and Jess Hale blocked, ran the ball out of defence and passed to the midfield with great determination. Gillingham continued to push hard breaking down Swans work. Liv Ashworth chased back and harried Gillingham stealing the ball and blocking numerous attacking moves. Jill Maynard fought hard to dominate the midfield running and running to channel then tackle spirited Gillingham youngsters. Paris Selby-Grace retreated from her normal attacking centre role joining in the general harassment of Gillingham blocking and hassling whenever she could.

Needing to score 2 more goals to top the league brave Gillingham continued to show their class with relentless attacks. Swans abandoned all thoughts of attack realising that defence here was the key to victory; and in the final 10 minutes the match was played in the Swans half. The Swans attackers pulled back and despite continued pressure from a dominant Gillingham, great teamwork from all of the Swans proved too much for Gillingham to overcome.

It was a wonderful match played by 2 teams under pressure, both being fully tested by the other and played in the true spirit of hockey.

Commiserations must go to Gillingham who tried so hard, but congratulations go to Swans 2nds who through brilliant teamwork, great maturity, determination and class held on to win the match 2-3

Swans Ladies Seconds squad, well led by Nikki Grenville-Cleave, are Channel 2 Division League Champions 2015/16. Something to truly savour over the Spring and Summer before the undoubted challenges of next season and the dizzy heights of Channel 1 Division.

Team: Grenville-Cleave, G Ashworth, J Ashworth, O Ashworth, Binns, Burt, Crook, Goldsack, Hale, Mahendran, Maynard, Selby-Grace,