Lymm 2 Newcastle University 0

A HIGH-QUALITY performance in goal and two skilful first-half finishes meant Lymm bagged their first win in the North League Division One on Saturday.

Newcastle University played well in patches and were awarded multiple penalty corners but with keeper Amy Heywood starring again in goal and the pace of forwards Alex Pepper, Megan Mousdale together with Ruby Kelly on debut Lymm were always dangerous on the break.

Both sides fought hard to work gaps but it was Lymm who were able to profit when Hollie Acklam found the net from a tight angle after good wide play from Izzy Plumb and Lymm continued to create chances, Nat Riley nearly playing in Mousdale for a second.

It was captain Lisa Hartley-Woodrow who put the home side two up with a driving run and spectacular reverse strike finish at the top of the D.

The second half saw the away team threaten Lymm’s goal with a succession of penalty corners but with the defence working hard and player of the game Amy Heywood looking sharp Lymm ended the game strongly.

Northop Hall 2 Lymm 2nd 2

LYMM Seconds were away at Northop Hall this weekend and hoping to build on the high work rate and fast paced game that they demonstrated they could produce last Saturday.

Although at half time the away team were 1-0 up thanks to a strike from captain Katy Arber from the top of the D, which found the back of the goal after a via Becky Webb on her debut, the score line did not really reflect the game.

Jo Skelton in goal had been kept busy by the Northop Hall attack and it was really a sign of the game that she was later nominated both man of the match by her own team and the opposition.

The Lymm team never really dominated the play the way they had the potential to and they let the home side play their game.

Northop Hall were dangerous on the break and were unlucky not to have scored more – again partly due to Lymm’s strong defence in particular Skelton in goal.

However the home side did put two shots past the Lymm keeper and although a team scramble in the Northop defensive D led to a goal for Ellie Anderson, it was not really a decisive performance from the visitors.

After the game Lymm second’s captain Arber expressed her disappointment in a somewhat lack lustre performance, she said: “On the upside we have gained another point but let’s make it three next time."

Lymm 3rd 4 Northop Hall 2nd 0

FORWARD Alison Fearn scored all four goals and was picked as player of the game by Northop Hall.

The score was 2-0 to Lymm by half-time with Lymm adding two in the second half.

Maddie Hopkinson provided some relief for the opposition, managing to win a green card for the highly unusual offence of intentionally handling the ball during a short corner for a ‘hand ball’ when she stopped the ball at the top of the D and then pushed it forward with her hand for the strike.

However it was only after 19 minutes that Northop Hall got the ball out of their own half of the pitch.

After 14 minutes Fearn scored the first goal, then two minutes later she scored another.

Pressure was maintained with a series of good passes down the wings, which led to many short corners and attempts on goal.

After the restart Alison scored the third goal, and four minutes after she scored the final goal of the match.

Lymm had a lot of shots on goal including a hit at the post and the bar, both by Helen Foundation.

Everyone contributed extremely well to an excellent team performance (including GK Grace Morris – who didn’t have very much to do).