Fireworks at the College as the ladies sparkle!

After a run of bad luck which has seen Marlborough take home only 1 point from the last 4 matches, a win on home soil against Wimborne Wayfarers was crucial, and the ladies in green were hungry for a win.

After fending off an early attack from the travelling side, Marlborough were soon in control, putting the Wayfarers defence under constant pressure with some fast and flowing offensive play. In a bizarre episode in Marlborough’s attacking D, a Wayfarers defender caught a lifted ball in front of goal like a test cricketer and Marlborough were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty flick. They kept up the pressure and their patience was soon rewarded after Lottie Colquhoun came off the bench to slot the first goal home from the left post; 1-0 Marlborough. A second quickly followed, with the pace of Milly Dawson, Jess Pugh and Catherine Manley up front too much for the Wayfarers defensive line. Jess finished in style from close range; 2-0 Marlborough. With the home team growing in confidence, Marlborough closed out the first half demonstrating the best hockey they have played all season, with some excellent attacking play up the flanks from half-backs Tori Williams,Annabel Ashley and Amy Davidson, and some killer balls distributed from the ever-dependable Rachel Cox in the centre of the park.

Keen to put clear water between themselves and the opposition, Marlborough looked the keener side early in the second half. After some excellent displays of passing hockey, orchestrated by the ‘link-men’ Ness Pickford-Smith and Penny Bowen, number 3 was quickly on the board. This one came from a turnover won convincingly by Tori Williams, who coolly fired the ball down the right to give Lottie Colquhoun her second of the game; 3-0 Marlborough. Jess Pugh followed suite with her second, calmly slotting a penalty flick away after finding a Wayfarer’s foot on the goal line; 4-0 Marlborough. It didn’t all go Marlborough’s way however, with Emily Carter-Davies and Beth Palfrey rallying the defence and goalkeeper Vicky Moxham demonstrating her cat-like reactions with some heroic saves to keep the Wayfarers off the scoresheet. Sadly, Ness Pickford-Smith’s over-enthusiastic tackling caught the eye of the umpire, attracting a green card and, never one to be left out, Janeve Beer quickly joined her on the naughty step for the same offence. Down to 9, Marlborough fought hard, but the numerical advantage proved too much and the Wayfarer’s scored a well-earned goal; 4-1 Marlborough. With both players out of the sin-bin, Marlborough were once more in control, leaving Catherine Manley to put the icing on the cake (thanks Sophie) of a very successful morning’s hockey; final score 5-1 to Marlborough.

Marlborough News Online man of the match was closely contested but Lottie Colquhoun was the well deserved winner of the title this week.