FAMOUTH 6 PAIGNTON 2

FALMOUTH Ladies Hockey Club's Ist XI started the New Year with a home fixture against Paignton and finished convincing 6-2 winners.

Defending their position at the top of the South League, Falmouth started positively, and played some excellent attacking hockey, but were kept at bay by a strong Paignton defence for the first 15 minutes.

Spreading the ball wide to right midfielder Hannah Royle, who got around the Paignton defence, she found Fay Robinson in front of goal who managed to wrongfoot the 'keeper and open the scoring.

The second goal followed soon after, as right wing Rachel Tatlow used her blistering pace to shake off the Paignton defence and beat the keeper with a powerful strike.

Paignton also showed themselves to be dangerous on the break, and a couple of excellent saves were required by Falmouth 'keeper June Moore to keep the home team ahead before Falmouth captain Clare Hudson thought she'd found the back of the net from a penalty corner, only to have it disallowed by keen-eyed umpire Chris Jackson for not bringing the ball out of the D before shooting. However, centre-forward "Weenie" Sambel made up for it almost immediately by intercepting a Paignton ball and stealing a 3-0 lead for Falmouth just before half time.

The home side continued to play excellent attacking hockey in the second half and Hannah Royle soon increased the goal tally when she beat the Paignton defence and sliced the ball through the 'keeper's legs from an audacious angle.

However, Paignton fought back and caught Falmouth defence on the break to win a penalty corner, which they smartly converted to pull back to 4-1.

The Paignton goalkeeper frustrated the home side with some excellent saves, before Sambel scored her second with a stunning solo effort. Paignton responded again to bring the score back to 5-2, but with a minute to go before full time Falmouth found time for one more goal, set up by player of the match Clare Hudson, and deftly knocked in by Fee Rundle to give them a 6-2 victory and protect their position at the top of the South League.