MINEHEAD Ladies I came back from a slow start to win 5-3 away to Winscombe in their opening game in Sedgemoor Division One of the West Clubs Women’s Hockey League.

At the start they couldn’t find their rhythm and soon fell behind to an easy goal, but once they settled down they equalised through Denise Lancaster after a good run by Vicky Perkins.

Midfielders Olivia Weatherlake, Georgia Weatherlake, Hazel Binding and Fenella Bennett were always quick on their feet and Minehead won numerous short corners, capitalising twice through Lancaster and Perkins to lead 3-1.

As the second half approached, defenders Liz Darby, Hannah Sparks and Tracey Bailey stood firm and keeper Helen Davies made some remarkable saves, but they couldn’t stop Winscombe pulling a goal back.

Good work between Sparks, Perkins and Lancaster resulted in the latter netting to restore the two-goal lead then Perkins calmly slotted the ball home in a one on one with the keeper to make it 5-2.

Minehead had more shots, created by Olivia and Georgia Weatherlake, but it was Winscombe who completed the scoring with a lucky third.

DJ Miles player of the match was Olivia Weatherlake.

Minehead Ladies I: Vicky Perkins, Denise Lancaster, Liz Darby, Hannah Sparks, Hazel Binding, Helen Davies, Hannah Thompson, Fenella Bennett, Tracey Bailey, Olivia Weatherlake, Georgia Weatherlake.

Minehead II 3

White Eagles III 1

Minehead Ladies II emerged convincing 3-1 winners of their first league game of the season against White Eagles III.

Relegated to Sedgemoor Division Two, they fielded a good mix of newly recruited young players balanced by some older stalwarts.

And that paid off as they put in a very competitive performance and displayed some excellent teamwork, with no hint that the line-up was playing together for the first time.

Minehead attacked determinedly from the off with midfielder Naomi Trunks distributing the ball well, flanked by Ella Beauchamp on the right and Wendy Daughtrey on the left, and play regularly reached the White Eagles circle.

Rachael Speed as central defender leant strong support to the attack and it was a firm pass from her that set up Freya Harding, perfectly positioned on the right post, to calmly turn the ball in for the opening goal.

Minehead kept up the pressure and Jodie Wallace’s pass across the D from the right was picked up by Daughtrey on the left and placed firmly past the White Eagle’s keeper.

At the other end, defenders Sue Garwood, Sophie Osler and Jane Trunks confidently managed the White Eagles attack so that El Kaye in goal was rarely troubled.

After the break, Minehead continued to play well as a unit, with Stacey Bosley and Beauchamp taking the attack up the right wing, supported well by Osler.

Their third goal was the result of a fine passing move which started with Harding on the left and involved Speed, Naomi Trunks and finally Beauchamp on the right, who scored from an incredibly narrow angle.

White Eagles mounted several counter-attacks and began to trouble the Minehead defence but only managed to break through and score a consolation goal in the dying minutes.

Minehead Ladies II: El Kaye, Sophie Osler, Jane Trunks, Sue Garwood, Rachael Speed, Ella Beauchamp, Naomi Trunks, Wendy Daughtrey, Stacey Bosley, Jodie Wallace, Freya Harding.

The AR Computing player of the match was Sophie Osler.

l Tomorrow (Saturday) Minehead 1st XI are at home to Burnham at 10.30am and the 2nd XI play Taunton Vale V away.