HOCKEY: Stourport Ladies firsts continued their Worcestershire Division One programme with a 3-0 victory over hosts Harborne seconds.
In an even match against the division's second-placed side, the town put on a display of good hockey to forget some disappointing displays in past weeks.
Stourport took the lead on 10 minutes when an intercepted hit was passed to Fran Long on the 25-yard line and she moved the ball onto Vicky Whitehouse.
Her pass found Kerry Walker who fired an inch inside the top of the left-hand post.
Five minutes later, the visitors grabbed their second goal when Melissa Kennedy dived underneath the keeper to score with a reverse-stick shot.
The move was started by Louise Deeman who made her first-team debut after replacing the injured Walker.
Superb marking and tackling denied Harborne from three short corners with Holly Lashford and player-of-the-match Alison Leeke doing particularly well.
Stourport sealed the match before the break as Deeman won their only short corner with a central run.
Louise Bagnall deflected the ball into the net at the post after taking the initial set-piece.
In the second half, Stourport eased the pressure and their best chance fell to Deeman only for a defender to deny her.
Stourport 2nds 2 Evesham 1
The seconds edged a hard-fought match after keeper Charlotte Manley dived to keep out a penalty flick within the first five minutes.
Soon afterwards, Stourport pushed forward and Rosie Connolly cracked the ball into the goal from the top of the D.
Evesham's attempts were thwarted by Manley's acrobatic saves and Stourport scored a second through Emily McCoy.
The visitors scored a consolation in the second half and pushed hard for the equaliser but the Stourport defence held firm.
Bromsgrove 0 Stourport 3rds 1
Stourport thirds made it a win treble for the ladies with Sarah Cavendish scoring the only goal on 15 minutes.
Following a short corner, Pat Terry shot at goal and Cavendish scooped the loose ball into the net.
Both sides pressed forward and Bromsgrove created the best chance of the half but Stourport finished the match on the offensive to take the points.
Fixtures, Saturday: Kings Heath v Stourport Ladies 1sts (noon), 2nds v Kidderminster (1pm), 3rds v Harborne 4ths (12.30pm).
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