Record broken!

Photo: Photo Paul Sterritt

IT’S MINE . . . Oldham’s Laura Malcolm is put under pressure by her Academy rival at Hathershaw College.

OLDHAM Netball Club were unable to recover from a opening-quarter deficit as they saw their unbeaten start to the National Premier League season ruined.

Debbie Hallas’s side were beaten 45-44 by Academy, who held a five-goal lead at the first break.

The home side did start brightly, but the attacking end failed to click with stray passes and loose shots.

Academy's attack were playing some strong and quick netball and their defence out-muscled Oldham’s shooters in the early part of the game as they took a 6-1 lead at Hathershaw College.

Some neat play from Oldham saw them narrow the gap to a couple of goals, but the momentum soon swung back in Academy’s favour.

Hallas stuck with the same seven for the second quarter, and her side recovered two goals.

Academy, from Middlesex, did not allow Oldham to draw level, though, as they created a turnover whenever the hosts threatened.

The half-way difference between the two sides was two points, at which stage the experienced Krista Enziano was introduced at goal shooter.

Both teams played some strong and fluid netball in the third quarter, and for the most part it was a goal-for-goal affair, with turnovers being traded.

Facing a five-goal deficit with a quarter to go, Oldham needed to act fast. Instead, Academy stretched their lead to eight.

Back came Oldham with four quick goals on the spin, before cutting the lead to just two.

The reigning champions were still a couple of goals adrift inside the final 60 seconds.

They reduced it to one, but were unable to draw level thanks to some clever play from Academy’s wing defence.

Hallas said: “I’m disappointed with the result, but it was a fantastic game and a great advert for netball.

“Our poor start put us on the back and we were always playing catch-up. We had three attempts to level the match and made three unforced errors at these crucial times.”

Oldham starting seven: GS A Clinton, GA K Turner, WA M McAndrew, C L Malcolm, WD J Gibson, GD E Dovey, GK K Almond. Bench: K Enziano, A Neild, A Tyrrell, T Cullen, I Darroch.