Hockey: Chi ladies hold Lewes, but miss out to Worthing

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Chichester PP Ladies 2nds 2 Lewes 3rds 2

THEIR first league match of the year saw Chichester share the spoils with Lewes.

Chi started well, instantly applying pressure on the visitors. Jess Gleeson, starting her first league game for the seconds, commanded her position on the left and gave Lewes a big headache.

Chichester passed the ball efficiently and were unlucky not to get an early goal.

Lewes didn’t really get into the game until 15 minutes in when they put passes together and came close to scoring – but Claire Young in goal thwarted them.

Chi took advantage and Jenna Greenaway scored from a penalty corner, the initial shot coming from Lindsay Hauxwell and rebounding off the keeper for Greenaway to score.

Lewes caught the Chi defence on the hop and equalised.

In the second half Chi knew they had to regroup. There was more accurate passing, less panicking and more composure on the ball. Elaine Cruttendon, playing slightly out of position, played excellently at centre-back, keeping the opposition forwards at bay. Chichester’s second came from an excellent diagonal pass from Amy Chaplin, who saw Rachael Trent making a brilliant cross-field run.

She picked the ball up and ran into the D, leaving the defence behind. With no hesitation she put the ball through the Lewes keepers legs.

Five minutes from the end Lewes broke and equalised.

CHI: Claire Young, Tracy Austin, Georgia Welch, Jenna Greenaway, Lindsay Hauxwell, Jess Gleeson, Elaine Cruttendon, Jenny Horton, Rachael Trent,Amy Chaplin, Holly Gyles, Sarah Pack.

Chichester PP Ladies 2nds 3 Worthing 2nds 4

Chichester’s plan of action was to attack from the first whistle but Worthing had other ideas.

Chi were pinned back in their half after making fundamental errors and through lack of concentration, the opposition had numerous penalty corners.

The Chi defence stood firm and this spurred the home side on. They started to put together some great passes and Ju Doherty, Jenna Greenaway and Sarah Jessop played the ball across the circle for Hauxwell to score.

Chichester blew hot and cold and Worthing had a break and equalised. Once again Chi seemed to remember how the game was played and created more chances and penalty corners, from which Chi scored through Doherty.

Worthing’s second goal came from a well taken penalty corner.

After half-time, right back Jenny Horton came to life and played even better than in the first half, pushing forward at every opportunity. Chi were playing constructively but pressed the self-destruct button and let Worthing in once again.

Chi did come back once more with hard-working Jessop getting Chi’s third.

Hauxwell came close to sealing it for Chi but Worthing came out on top, scoring the winner five minutes from the end – a disappointing end for Chichester after a frantic match.

CHI: Claire Young, Tracy Austin, Georgia Welch, Jenna Greenaway, Lindsay Hauxwell, Jenny Horton, Rachael Trent, Tendo Manyarara, Sarah Jessop, Harriet Gray, Ju Doherty, Merryn Young.

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