Victory a positive end to the season

PENALTY SAVE . . . Sarah Simpson

OLDHAM Ladies Hockey Club firsts wrapped up their North Hockey Women's League South-West campaign on a winning note.

Away to their relegation-haunted Prescot counterparts, they clinched a fine 3-0 success in wet and windy conditions.

With players absent, Lisa Meanock, skipper Hayley Jackson and Olivia Perry were promoted from the seconds.

Though it rained for all of the 70 minutes the weather failed to dampen both teams' spirits.

Oldham started well and soon had Prescot on the back foot.

The hosts' goalkeeper was alert to save an early effort from Karen Rowley, with Oldham the final pass away from executing some lovely moves.

Oldham took the lead when a short corner was saved, but Meanock was on hand to fire in hard and low to the left-hand side of the goal.

Prescot pushed forward in numbers, which meant they were open to the counter-attack.

Sarah Simpson, in the Oldham goal, was again in fine form. She was quick off her line and alert to some deflections as balls were fired into the 'D'.

Following a short corner, Prescot were awarded a penalty stroke. However, Simpson dived to her right to pull off a superb save.

This jolted Oldham into life and they went close from a corner of their own on the stroke of half-time.

Oldham continued to be the more assertive of the sides in the early stages of the second half. It was no surprise, therefore, when Rowley fired home after a flowing move involving Yvonne Jackson and Louise Howard.

Absorbing plenty of pressure, Oldham were happy to hit a physical Prescot side on the break. The defensive three of Kasia Faulkner, Ward and Amanda Smith were alert to the aerial press from Prescot.

Another short corner saw Oldham hit their third as the new corner routines confused the Prescot backline and Rachael Johnson fired in despite the best efforts of a defender and goalkeeper.

With the season over, Oldham have much to look forward to before the restart in September.

Oldham: S Simpson (GK), K Faulkner, DM Ward (C), A Smith, J Perry, Y Jackson, R Johnson, L Meanock, H Jackson, L Howard, K Rowley, O Perry.

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