A First Point For Fareham And It Could Have Been More

Fareham picked up their first point of the season on Saturday in a tense 1-1 draw at Bristol Firebrands in which they played the better hockey for much of the game, dominated the penalty corner count and came close to scoring a late winner but both sides will feel that this was a match they could have won. Despite the many positives we could take from a much improved performance the day was marred by an injury suffered by Lydia Jackson who dislocated her shoulder in a heavy 3rd quarter fall. Fortunately, after a trip to hospital, the shoulder was put back in position and Lydia is otherwise OK but facing a spell on the sidelines as she recovers.

As with all games this season we began the match with a smaller squad than the opposition as fourteen travelled to Bristol. Motorway accidents and heavy traffic delayed the arrival of most of the squad. With our final two players only reaching the club with twenty minutes to spare we had to make changes to the starting lineup which included Katie Paxman playing her first game of the season and the return of Alicia Caillard. Both played very well and the added strength and experience was invaluable.

After last week’s shirt colour change to help the opposition, Fareham began the game back in black and the early exchanges were even. The first chance of the game came after Firebrands won what was to be their only penalty corner. The resulting shot was comfortably saved by Sophia Barclay but the home side maintained the pressure, forcing Fareham to play the ball patiently out from the back. Unfortunately this brought the opening goal in the 8th minute as a misplaced pass was returned back into the ‘D’ to an unmarked Katherine Hunter. Sophia was alert to the danger and prevented an initial shot but as the ball rolled loose and the defenders tried to clear MARIA ANDREWS followed up with a shot from the edge of the ‘D’ to give the home side the lead.

A minute later, Firebrands could have added a second as a quick break set up a golden opportunity but again Sophia raced out to kick clear before Ellen Hood could shoot. Fareham’s best chance of the opening quarter came from a PC when Sarah Atkinson followed up a blocked shot but her second effort was deflected over.

The 2nd quarter began with Fareham starting to build some promising passing moves but they were nearly punished for another error when losing possession near the half-way line. Katherine Hunter broke through the middle before laying the ball off and then ran on to a return pass from Maria Andrews but once again Sophia was on hand to save the shot from close range.

At this point play became concentrated in the Firebrands half and the pressure built as Fareham won three PCs in quick succession. In the 29th minute Alice Lander did well to win possession on the right and her long pass into the ‘D’ found Emma Boddington whose whot was deflected wide. Moments later Alicia Caillard almost capitalised on confusion in the home defence but her sharp turn and shot was inches wide of the right post.

Apart from brief periods, Fareham had controlled most of the quarter and were looking increasingly dangerous and the belief increased that this was a game that they could win.

The momentum that Fareham had taken into the break dissipated somewhat in the 3rd quarter. The home side had the majority of the possession in the opening minutes and had an excellent chance to double the lead. A reverse shot across the area looked certain to result in another score as it headed for Maria Andrews directly in front of the goal but, not for the first time, Sophia stretched out a long leg to clear the ball in the nick of time.

Most of the play was in the Fareham half and although they were not under too much pressure they found it hard to regain the initiative. Play was halted in the 46th minute by Lydia’s injury. Receiving a pass near the left touchline she beat a player before turning infield as a challenge came in from a Firebrands stick. Lydia stepped on the stick as she turned and fell heavily with her left shoulder taking most of the impact.

With Lydia being prepared for a trip to hospital, play resumed after about five minutes. The visitors briefly regained the ascendancy before a quick Firebrands break caused danger. Bella Slawin, the captain, raced on to a pass just inside the Fareham half. As she reached the ‘D’ Aimee Timms and Katie Paxman held her up just long enough to enable Sophia to clear the danger before Maria Andrews could get to the ball.

If the 3rd quarter had been a disappointment then the 4th quarter more than made up for it. Fareham began the final period fired up and determined to get something from the game and this brought them an equalizer in the 56th minute from a penalty corner. The ball was slipped to Aimee Timms whose diagonal pass across the ‘D’ threaded through a narrow gap to the far post where ALICE LANDER was on hand to provide the finishing touch and score her first Fareham goal. It capped a very good performance, even more noteworthy as she had already played a match for her school in the morning.

The visitors now took charge again and threatened to score a second as they moved the ball well. However, as the game went into the last five minutes both sides were looking for the winner and it was the home side who had the first opportunity. Collecting the ball deep in her own half, Maria Andrews (again) ran over half the length of the field into the Fareham area. Sophia came out and did incredibly well to buy a little time for the defenders as she forced the Firebrands forward wide and pushed the ball away with her stick. However, her opponent had not given up and unleashed a high reverse shot goalwards which was brilliantly stopped and hooked clear by a combination of Aimee Timms and Katie Paxman.

A point had been saved but there was still an opportunity for a winning goal for Fareham. With three minutes remaining Gracie Coleman received a pass from Izzy Austin. She showed strength to see off a challenge from two defenders and then beat two more as she ran into the ‘D’. As the goalkeeper and a sixth defender closed in on her Gracie lifted her shot just out of the reach of the keeper but agonizingly inches wide of the far post.

In the final seconds Fareham had one last chance from a penalty corner but seconds later the final whistle blew with the visitors in possession on the edge of the Firebrands area.

Overall it was a much improved performance. We still need to be careful about turnovers in dangerous places but we played very positively as we competed on equal terms with a team well established at this level and showed a growing belief that we belong in this company.

Next Saturday we are on the road again as we visit Oxford Hawks (12.00). It is a familiar venue for us but this time we are taking on their first team and a side who many thought could be candidates to win the division. It will be a tough test for us at this stage of the season but if we can move forward from this week’s encouraging performance then we can do well.