30th January 2007
EHL REPORT: Woking 3, Swansea 3

Swansea were looking to set the record straight with this first game of the second half of the EHL season after having suffered a narrow loss to Woking at home in a game which they should have won convincingly. They started with this attitude very much in mind and pressurised Woking right from the first whistle. Within the first minute Angharad Griffiths crashed a free hit into the D and Sarah Sloane deflected the ball into the goal to give the team a marvellous start: 1-0 after 30 seconds. Unbelievably, however, a lack of concentration at the restart saw Woking hit a through ball beyond the Swansea defence to find Jo Bryant who calmly slotted past Llian Trew to make it 1-1 inside two minutes.

Both sides then settled into the game but with the midfield and defence tightening up on their organisation and commitment, opportunities for attacking players on both sides were limited. Some good approach play from Swansea forced consecutive penalty corners, but these were dealt with by the Woking keeper and nobody was able to benefit from the rebounds. Cat Budd worked hard in the middle of the field to break up Woking attacks and distributed the ball well to the front players. Angharad Griffiths was always busy in defence, while Emily Scudamore got in her usual share of crucial tackles. As ever, Carys Hopkins was a threat whenever she received the ball but found herself heavily marked. Woking ended the half forcing a number of penalty corners, which were dealt with efficiently by the Swansea defence.

Within five minutes of the second half Swansea had an opportunity to go ahead when, after breaking forward, they outnumbered Woking by three to one in the D but were unable to capitalise. Then, after 55 minutes, Swansea got the ball into the goal only to find that the umpire had already blown for a penalty corner. Play immediately moved to the other end of the field and some clever interplay enabled Donna Cox to score for Woking in the 56th minute. Swansea then faced a period of intense pressure and Llian Trew was forced to make a number of important saves, particularly from a one on one situation. A Swansea breakaway ended in the award of a penalty corner and, as the ball went loose following the initial strike, Carys tipped the ball into the goal at the near post after 64 minutes. Then, in a repeat of the action in the first half, Woking went straight to the other end to score from a penalty corner within a minute. Swansea did not give in, however, and a tremendous driving run by Carys in which she left three defenders in her wake saw the fourth impede her on goal. Carys coolly converted the penalty stroke after 68 minutes making the final score 3-3.

Match report by: Rob Fowler

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