ECVH 1 Minehead 6

MINEHEAD Ladies I travelled to Collumpton on one of the wettest days of the year and came away convincing 6-1 winners in a competitive game against Exeter and Culm Vale Hornets.

They attacked from the off and forced a short corner early on, and a tremendous strike from Vicky Perkins found Georgia Perkins perfectly placed on the left post to deflect the ball into the net to put them ahead.

After a period of end to end play, a shot by Denise Lancaster was stopped on the line by a defender’s foot and Vicky Perkins confidently converted the penalty flick to give the visitors a two goal cushion.

ECVH also attacked persistently but defenders Carol Matravers, Helena Reynolds and Amy Tisshaw managed the pressure well until an excellent strike put the home side back in contention at 2-1.

However, midfielders Liz Darby and Hannah Thompson worked the ball up the pitch and a Lancaster shot was given a helping hand by an ECVH defender to put Minehead 3-1 up just before the break.

The second half saw Minehead continue to play well as a unit, and a ball out of defence from Matravers found Vicky Perkins and her well-placed pass gave Lancaster another chance which she took without hesitation.

Annabelle Cottrill, who worked tirelessly on the right to keep the pressure on, then put the ball decisively into the D for Lancaster to coolly beat the advancing keeperand make it 5-12.

Minehead’s sixth goal came from another short corner, with the ball coming out to Lancaster, and although a slip was planned the defence were slow out and Lancaster opted to strike, beating the keeper just inside the left post.

The 6-1 scoreline did not reflect the pressure ECVH continued to apply on the Minehead defence, and keeper Janice Weetch made several important saves including a penalty flick late in the game.

The Natalie Poat Travel Counsellor player of the match was Amy Tisshaw.

Minehead Ladies I: Jan Weetch, Helena Reynolds, Carol Matravers, Amy Tisshaw, Liz Darby, Annabelle Cottrill, Georgia Perkins, Hannah Thompson, Wendy Daughtrey, Vicky Perkins, Denise Lancaster. ­