Dereham 4 Colchester 2 Colchester 2 Lowestoft 1

Dereham 4 Colchester 2

OFF the back of a 6-0 win over Wisbech on Saturday, February 25, Colchester went into their weekend of hockey with high hopes. The team travelled to Dereham last Saturday and started the match promisingly. However Dereham scored their first goal from a well executed short corner. Their second and third goals game from long balls into the penalty area, which were deflected behind goalkeeper Emma Painter, with little she could do to stop them.

Colchester battled on and played much better in the second half, breaking down play and stopping the strong Dereham forwards from scoring. Colchester made a close come back scoring two goals. The first goal came from a penalty corner, which after an initial rebound was eventually touched in by Ellison’s man of the match Kirsty Barber who did similar for the second goal.

Unfortunately time ran out and the final score finished 4-2 Dereham, who scored from a penalty corner on the final whistle, despite the best efforts of Hazel Gower and Angela Roberts.

Colchester 2 Lowestoft 1

IN a weekend of two games, Colchester were determined to take three points from their visit to Lowestoft last Sunday. After a shaky start the team got into their stride and, in the wind and rain, won a penalty corner early into the first half. Jo Hill attacked the rebound and put the ball in the goal, scoring Colchester’s first goal. Lowestoft came back strong and matched Colchester’s determination to win the ball. Lowestoft were awarded a penalty corner shortly after Colchester took the lead, which they scored from. Strong defensive performances kept the score at 1-1 for the remainder of the first half.

The second half continued as the first finished, with both teams matching each other in determination. There were a number of well executed moves between Linda Rose, Anna Foley and Kirsty Barber down the right side of the pitch. Angela Roberts and Helen Scott also linked up well on the left hand side, providing forwards Jo Hill, Lucy Struth and Evie Hampson with a number of opportunities in the penalty area. Late second half drama saw one of the Lowestoft team dismissed with a red card for descent, Colchester capitalised on this and Ellison’s man of the match Jo Hill scored again, putting Colchester in the lead. The final score finished 2-1 to Colchester.