Hockey: Chichester ladies look for Lewes success

It's all about the ladies this week on our regular round-up of the local hockey scene.
Alana Deacon on the ball for Chi ladies' seconds / Picture by Kate ShemiltAlana Deacon on the ball for Chi ladies' seconds / Picture by Kate Shemilt
Alana Deacon on the ball for Chi ladies' seconds / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Chichester’s men’s firsts had a break from league action but several of the ladies’ teams locked horns with Lewes.

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Lewes 2 Chichester Ladies 2

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A visit to Lewes was always going to be tough but with a solid team and a squad of supporters Chichester were ready for the fight.

With great defensive teamwork from Sally Bradley, Mirriam Sparshott, Natty Halliday, Megan Hattemore and goalie Steph Kalber, Chichester started well.

With Sparshott well and truly ‘putting a pie’ to one of Lewes’ strikers, performing a superb tackle on her just outside the D.

Verena Sambel executed some nifty dribbling which was too much for the Lewes defence, earning a short corner for Chi. With nice team work and a lot of scrambling, the ball ended up in the back of the Lewes net with Lottie Greenlees getting the last touch.

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Lewes came on the counter-attack and levelled. But soon Healey passed to Amy Chaplin, who took no prisoners in the D striking the ball so well the keeper had to full stretch to stop it from going in the net.

Young guns Gleeson and Gyles kept pushing Lewes, making great runs down the left and right.

In the second half, Chichester needed to take their chances to secure a win.

It looked like they would as Polish international Patti Hyla ran circles round Lewes and Meg Goring practically took out one of the Lewes players when the opposition found themselves on the floor.

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Finally a straight strike from Sambel at top of the D secured the second goal. Sally ‘the bullet’ Bradley wanted a third, sprinting from the defensive quarter right up to the attacking D.

Sadly for Chichester, Lewes earned a short corner and netted a scrambled goal. With ten minutes to go, Chichester put the pressure on and really tried to find a third goal.

A few chances came but they couldn’t seal the deal, and Chi were disappointed not to win despite a great performance.

Chichester Ladies 2nds 3 Lewes 3rds 2

It was set to be a real challenge for Chi to keep up their winning run - but it was a challenge they met.

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With a changed team Chi were unsettled and weren’t working together as a unit. This led to Lewes breaking with their young fast players and passing the Chi defence to score.

Chi started to string some passes together. The forwards were rewarded with a penalty corner and as the ball went out to Jenna Greenway, she struck it sweetly into the bottom corner.

Chichester soaked up a lot of pressure just before half-time.

In the second period, the home side felt more relaxed, shown in their more decisive play.

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The Chi defence were awesome especially Vicky Oliver-Catt and, in goal, Claire Young, thwarting many attacks.

Rachel Trent and Alana Deacon up front were combining well and Maddy Wright in midfield was finding her feet and scored Chi’s second.

Lewes weren’t going to lie down but the hosts were persistent and Trent, with great skill and determination, scored Chi’s third.

This gave Chi breathing space, although Lewes kept coming and were awarded a penalty corner and with a little lack in concentration by Tracy Austin, they scored from close range on the post.

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This led to a nervy end to the game but Chi held on and are top of their league.

Chichester: Claire Young, Tracy Austin, Vicky Oliver- Catt, Sarah Pack, Jenna Greenway, Cheryl Parrott, Rachel Trent, Nat Spencer, Alana Deacon, Harriet Gray, Maddy Wright, Merryn Young, Xenia Trueman.

Lewes Ladies 4ths 2 Chi Ladies 3rds 1

It was an early start for Chichester Ladies at Lewes with a 10.15am pushback.

It was an evenly-matched first half but Lewes managed to slip two past Chi.

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After a good half-time team talk, Chichester came out strong with chances on goal but they deflected off the keeper’s pads.

With excellent passes from the midfield to the strikers, Chi did get one goal back.

The team played well but the result didsn’t reflect the team’s hard work.

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