Firsts hold firm

AMANDA SMITH . . . opening goal.

OLDHAM Ladies Hockey Club firsts are growing in confidence after a third win on the spin.

Fran Lees’ side weren’t at their best, but still good enough to beat Timperley 2-1 in North Hockey Women’s League Division Two South-West.

Defending stoutly — goalkeeper Sarah Simpson and left-back Amy Broadbent were terrific — Oldham stunned the hosts with a second-half winner.

Timperley, playing a direct brand of hockey, were happy to put aerial balls into the ‘D’ and allow their forwards to pressurise the Oldham backline.

On one occasion when Timperley’s defence tried to play the ball out from the back, Oldham

dispossessed them and forward Louise Howard got to the byline. She hit a flat reverse-stick shot into the danger area, where on-rushing midfielder Amanda Smith turned the ball home.

Timperley were level before the break when, from a contentious short corner and initial save by Simpson, Oldham’s goal was finally breached.

The second half continued in the same vein — a well-fought midfield battle — as Oldham made a

number of roll on substitutions to keep legs fresh.

The visitors defence stood firm and happy for the Timperley players to air their frustrations towards the umpires.

Simpson made some outstanding saves, particularly from a number of short corners, while tream-mate Daisy May Ward cleared one effort in mid air when the ’keeper was beaten.

Oldham rocked Timperley inside the last 10 minutes. After a series short routines had failed, they took the direct route and Karen Rowley linked up with the returning Rachael Johnson, who took one touch and fired in between ’keeper and a defender.

Tempers became frayed, with a Timperley player shown the green card for repeated stick-checking, while another squared up to Howard.

The home side threw everything at Oldham, but the backline of Lees, Ward, Broadbent and Chidi Onuoha resolutely held firm.