WEST HOCKEY LEAGUE WOMEN’S TRELAWNEY DIVISION ONE

Bude 2 Penzance Seconds 3

A SLOW start cost the home side dear as second-placed Penzance left North Cornwall with all three points after a 3-2 success.

Bude, who gave a debut to Kirsty Newton in goal, had won 8-1 at Bodmin Seconds a week earlier thanks to efforts from Izzy Sobey, Briony Varcoe (2), Tammy Snowsill (2), Chloe Hall, Naomi Hatcher and EV Varcoe, but they were made to pay for a slow opening 15 minutes where the visitors went 3-0 ahead.

Bude regrouped, helped by Mia Flynn, Caroline Hockridge and Phoebe Gannon dropping further back.

This adjustment left Naomi Hatcher free to distribute to ball back out to Willow Du Plessis and Hannah Maloney which allowed the defence a breather.

Bude continued to improve, helped by some good runs from Katie Jackson and EV Varcoe, but couldn’t beat the visiting keeper.

Izzy Sobey earned the Seasiders a short corner, but despite earning a flurry of them in quick succession, the opening goal failed to arrive.

The hosts dominated possession after the break and when Naomi Hatcher found the net with a deflected shot it was game on as they sensed their chance and drove forward with real purpose.

Player of the match Hockridge was relentless, weaving through their defence and consistently feeding the ball to the forwards, while Chloe Hall had several great shots on goal and Izzy Wickett made impressive drives.

It looked as if it would stay at 3-1 and although Charlotte Prime managed to dribble through the defence and score a second home goal to set up a thrilling finale, time was running out.

Try as they might, Penzance’s defence was in determined mood as they headed back west with all three points.

Bude, who are seventh in the 11-team division, visit Plymouth Lions Thirds on Saturday (3pm).