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Milford Haven Ladies Hockey 1XI showed their resilience, patience and endeavour to secure a 1-0 victory over Radnor on Saturday (Mar 15) at their home venue at Milford Haven School, the victory keeping alive their hopes of promotion to the South Wales Hockey League Premier Division 2.
The red and blue shirted home side on a perfect spring afternoon, scored the winning goal of the game through Lucy Macintosh with twelve minutes of the second half remaining, the number 15 benefiting from a great defensive tackle from full back Gemma Sandy which allowed central midfielder Meg Bowen-Jenkins to put the fast running forward through on goal with a delightfully weighted pass, Macintosh interchanging play with co forward Amelia Coe, which ensured she created space in the penalty area, to drive the ball confidently home from twelve yards.
The opening interactions belonged to the visitors who play out of Llandrindod Wells, as they controlled the ball in the teeming midfield area, Milford not settling into their normal playing rhythm of composed crisp passing, teenager Pippa Jones and Amabella Griffiths showing skill out wide to trouble their opponent, as key pivot Emma Summons tried to establish the transitional play for her side from the centre of the pitch. Sandy and experienced central defender Meg Griffiths held the defensive line to keep goalkeeper Nia Lewis untroubled, despite the game being played in the home half of the pitch.
As the first half moved towards the break Rachel Coe, Steph Layton and Alice Wonnacott all had their moments of venture, using the ball with vision and showing the ability to reverse stick pass to create the space for Bowen-Jenkins and Summons to deliver passes to player of the match Kacey Arran, for the creative attacking midfielder to provide opportunities for her team mates to test the visiting custodian, who performed well to prevent her side conceding goals.
A period of sustained pressure saw Milford show their array of short corner routines with slick and direct passing in and around the penalty area, the final shot and pass not being rewarded whilst at the other end Lewis remained fully focused having a commanding voice and reassuring presence with clean footwork to clear the danger lines on Radnor’s limited forays into the Milford half.
The second half mirrored that of the game’s opening period, Lewis again dominating her penalty area, referee Dianne Davies consistent for both teams in her advantage play and penalty detection for high sticks, body obstruction on the ball and foot infringements, Radnor not able to benefit from their short corner routines where Molly Baddrock showed maturity beyond her years to read the opposition game play as her side were organised and committed in their defensive recital.
Coach Jo Kirk-Harris would have been pleased as her charges were able to hold play and defend from the front line, continually having eyes on to read the opposition play which was strong on both flanks, Sandy and Baddrock shining examples to their experienced team mates to follow with their work rate and tenacity.
A feature of the home play was the strength in the tackling utilising their technical skills in a stable and low body position, that physical dominance allowing offensive play to be quick and direct when the ball was turned over, forward Griffiths on several occasions making strides to the byline from Bowen-Jenkins and Arrans through ball, her final pass just eluding the on running Arran and Bowen-Jenkins who showed their fitness as the game progressed into the final quarter.
Milford currently hold second place in the Division1 League table, two points clear of Penarth 3s in the battle for runners up place, with a game in hand over their promotion, clear league leaders Cardiff University 3s, visiting Pembrokeshire on Saturday (Apr 5) in the only home game of Milford’s four remaining fixtures.
The Club this season also entered a second team playing in the South Wales Hockey League Division 5 and in a prelude to senior team game they recorded a 5-0 success over visitors Whitchurch Saints 6s, Blanche Bennett netting a brace with other goals coming from Daisy Thomas, Olivia Jones and Vicky Lloyd. The result ensures their promotion to Division 4 for next season alongside Teigrod Tywi.
Milford v Radnor
Nia Lewis; Meg Bowen-Jenkins; Meg Griffiths; Molly Badrock; Gemma Sandy; Emma Summons; Kacey Arran; Pippa Jones; Alice Wonnacott; Annabelle Griffiths; Amelia Coe; Alice Coe; Lucy Macintosh; Steph Layton
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