Gutsy Oldham seal win

Photo: Paul Sterritt

DAISY MAY WARD . . .wins the ball against Bowdon

RESILIENT Oldham Ladies Hockey Club firsts claimed maximum spoils thanks to a gritty 1-0 win over Bowdon in their final home game of the North Hockey Women's League Division Two South-West season.

It was a hard-fought clash, as the scoreline suggests.

Oldham coach Chris Dean warned his side against complacency - and they heeded his message by making a positive start at Newman College without being able to carve out clear-cut chances.

Louise Howard was first to go close after receiving a pass from Karen Rowley as she fired a shot on the turn just wide.

Rowley was then unlucky not to get a good connection to a pass from the creative Rachael Johnson.

Oldham attacked in numbers, and Fran Less looked to get the ball out wide to Rebecca Blair and Amanda Smith on the wings.

The breakthrough finally arrived when a well-worked move involving Johnson, Lees and Rowley - the latter sold a perfect dummy in the 'D' - resulted in Howard smashing home from close range.

BRILLIANT

Relegation-haunted Bowdon sprung into life and put the hosts under the cosh for the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Sarah Simpson was again brilliant in the Oldham goal. She thwarted deflections from Bowdon and narrowed the angles, on one occasion taking out her own defender Kasia Faulkner and a Bowdon forward to stop an effort at goal.

The second half was played at a blistering pace and the young legs of Bowdon and their endless energy forced Oldham to dig deep.

Player of the day, left-back Amy Broadbent, was in commanding form for Oldham against the pacey Bowdon winger, skipper Daisy May Ward made some great tackles, while Yvonne Jackson and Faulkner kept their composure in the face of persistent attacks.

Bowdon became frustrated and their forward was sent to the sin-bin for a stick tackle.

• Check out more hockey pictures on our picture sales page.