Colchester 2 Wisbech 1

NE14Hockey East Women's League

Division 1N

Colchester 2 Wisbech 1

A BIG weekend for Colchester saw them playing two must win games. Having already sealed promotion to the East Premier League, Colchester were desperate to finish the season as league champions having been top all year.

First up were Wisbech, on Saturday, a team who had beaten Colchester in the cup earlier in the season. Colchester, who were missing key forward Helen Barnes, were focussed from the start and managed to keep the visitors in their own half for the opening 20 minutes.

The pressure finally paid off when Louise Bibby lifted the ball past the Wisbech keeper to give Colchester a deserved 1-0 lead. The home side continued to dominate but a lack of concentration saw the visitor's break, with only a last ditch tackle by Anna-Marie Bradley preventing a shot on goal. The tackle was harshly adjudged to be a foul and a penalty flick was awarded. Keeper Jacqui Crombie went the right way but the ball was well placed so the teams went in at half time with the scores tied at 1-1.

Wisbech started the second half strongly, but Colchester dug deep to ride the storm. Midway through the half a quick hit out by Naomi Allen found Anna Foley in midfield who in turn played the ball up to an unmarked Louise Bibby, who calmly went around the keeper to give the home side the lead once more. With the best defensive record in the league Colchester knew they could hold on for the remainder of the game and so it finished 2-1 and a step closer to the title.