DROITWICH Spa Ladies Firsts picked up their second win in Worcestershire Hockey League Division Two after defeating Old Halesonians Firsts 4-3.
Spa had the majority of the play in the opening exchanges therefore it was a surprise when Halesonians opened the scoring with a counter-attack after ten minutes of solid defending.
The hosts responded as some great teamwork between Harriet Grant and Mollie Cresswell set skipper Lucy Hine free before she fired home with a reverse shot after 15 minutes.
And just a minute later Spa went ahead when Abbiegail Latham clinically finished at the back stick following some skill from Hannah Lee down the right.
After the break, it was still anybody’s game as the visitors soaked up all the pressure and played on the break.
But Sue Williams appeared to calm the home side’s nerves as she skillfully intercepted numerous loose balls to disrupt the visitors’ attacks.
Spa were then awarded a penalty corner early in the second half before Jenny Hewelett’s deflected shot fired them into a 3-1 lead.
Halesonians never gave and with two minutes remaining they managed to claw level, much to the frustration of the home side.
This spurred Spa on and after the visitors were reduced to ten players following a green card for not retreating the five metres from a free hit, the extra space allowed an attack down the right where Latham swept home from close range.
Captain Hine said: “I am proud of how the team and players stuck to their task following the last two defeats.
“This win gives the team renewed momentum to take into the rest of the campaign as we look to compete at the top end of the table.
“We have a break in the league to enjoy the victory before returning to action against Harborne in November, a side who are unbeaten, but I know that we can get a result against them.”
Elsewhere, the Ladies Seconds enjoyed a 5-0 friendly victory over Redditch Ladies.
Spa raced into a 4-0 first-half lead thanks to goals from Rachel Cooper, Jenny Cooper, Gabriella Prendiville and Anna Weston.
Prendiville then rounded off the scoring in the second half.
