Not a confident Dawlish team

Due to injury and a number of players being away it was just a nine man Dawlish side which took the trip to Ottery St Mary to face Honiton Hornets II. Despite a positive start to the season and some good training sessions it was not a confident Dawlish team that took to the field.
From the push back it was clear that the Dawlish side were going to have a tough afternoon and have to work 100% to not let the opposition run away with the game. Dawlish were extremely grateful to have experienced back Rose Carpenter in the side with Natasha Bailey giving the Hornets forwards a battle to capitalise on their two man advantage.
Dawlish battled hard but eventually the inevitable happened and Honiton broke through the Dawlish back line and with a lucky deflection opened the scoring. Despite Sarah Webster the Dawlish Keeper and Captain making some impressive diving saves Honiton found a way through the Dawlish defence again before half time to take a two goal lead.
Dawlish did manage to break on the counter attack and Jess Green used her speed and close stick control to make some strong runs down the right and hold up the ball until support arrived. As the half time whistle approached it was Dawlish who were looking more likely to score with Amy Reed and Anne Darby joining the Dawlish strike force. Unfortunately for Dawlish the first half came to an end before they could capitalise on their possession.
It was a long second half for Dawlish’s nine players; Lizzie Reed’s work rate was tireless in the middle of the Dawlish midfield continuing to battle to win back possession and turn the play into a positive attack. Dawlish were starting put pressure on the Hornet’s defence once again but this time it was Honiton who broke on the counter attack and with the two man advantage took the score to three goals clear.
Dawlish were down but not out and within moments of Hornets getting their third Helen Nicholson and Jess Green broke into the Hornet’s half and with some skilful one touch hockey were unlucky not to make the final touch for a deserved goal. Dawlish continued to play positive hockey and Gemma Wilkes was unlucky not to score her first goal for the club after receiving the ball at the keeper’s feet.
It is fair to say that a full Dawlish team would have given the Honiton Hornets a real run for their money as the nine man side that lost three nil this Saturday certainly did not make it easy for them and put in a positive team performance.