Dawson scores again and again and again and again!

Saturday saw the ladies 1s start their 2017/2018 campaign against Royal Wooton Bassett with the side remaining largely unchanged since their 2nd in the league finish last season.

The first half was played at a good pace with both sides trying to settle early and gain the upper hand. Marlborough started stringing their passes together with good runs through the middle from Rachel Cox and down both sides by Jess Davis , Torie Williams and Sophie Fynn linking well with the forward line of Cath Manley, Milly Dawson and Tess Christmas. This sustained pressure resulting in some near misses and it was just a matter of time before the stalemate was broken initially by a lovely tap in on the back post by Milly Dawson and then closely followed by a much deserved goal by Rachel Cox. Royal Wootton Baassett were generally restrained from coming too far into the Marlborough half with great play from the back line of Amy Davidson, Beth Palfrey, Emily Carter-Davies and Annabel Ashley with goalkeeper Vicky Moxham only being called upon to make one save.

The start of the second half saw Marlborough go up a gear and any summer cobwebs were well and truely blown away as the side played some clinical hockey . Annabel and Amy tore up and down the sidelines and Rachel ran herself ragged in the middle of the park distributing the ball with precision. Sophie, Jess and Torie linked up well making runs into the D creating chances and getting the ball to the waiting forwards who in turn worked tirelessly and this hard word by everyone paid dividends. Bang bang bang in went the goals 3 more for Milly and 2 for Tess and with 10 minutes to go Marlborough were 7/0 up. It sounds like it was all one way traffic but to their credit Wootton Bassett never gave up and tested the Marlborough defence on a number of occasions. A momentary lapse by keeper Moxham let Wootton Bassett in for a consolation goal. This didn't dampen the Marlborough appetite for more goals with Sophie Fynn getting n the goal sheet just before the final whistle.

A fantastic and confident start to the season for Marlborough. Next week the league starts as they welcome Chippenham to the blue pitch .