ATHLETIC KEEP DREAMS ALIVE
CARMARTHEN Hockey Club’s 1st XI kept their promotion hopes alive in division two of the South Wales Women’s Hockey League with a 3-1 home win against Cardiff University 4ths in their penultimate game of the season.
Carmarthen started strongly, scoring in the opening minutes of the contest.
A strong attack down the wing found defensive midfielder Anna Heath, who swept the ball into the D where Beck Cartland at the post touched the ball into the goal.
Some more positive play from midfielders Heath, Anna Knuckles, Megan Henry, Sophie Palmer and Catrin Davies saw chances created but Carmarthen couldn’t convert them into goals.
The second half saw Cardiff fly out of the blocks but Carmarthen’s defence stood firm, and Carmarthen made it 2-0 when the ball was passed from Sophie Palmer to Ffion Jones, who then passed to Cartland who put the ball into the bottom corner.
Cardiff Uni poured forward and reduced the deficit to 2-1, but Carmarthen were rewarded for working tirelessly and their forwards Scarlett Mackenzie-Jones, Ffion Jones, Cartland, Megan Davies and Maya Davies impressed with their attacking play.
The third Carmarthen goal came from a long corner from Palmer, who took the ball herself and hit it into the D to again find Cartland, who calmly tucked the ball in for her hat-trick and a very good 3-1 win.
Carmarthen awarded player of the match to Cartland.
Carmarthen round off their season on Saturday hoping to seal promotion to division one.
Carmarthen’s 2nd XI, meanwhile, finished off their season in division four with a 7-0 home win against lowly Whitchurch Saints 6ths to finish in third position, just missing out on promotion.
Carmarthen’s forwards Charlotte Harries, Siriol Richards, Emily Gard and Ffion Raymond linked well with wing-backs Sioned Raymond, Beca Ann Jones and Rhian Moremon to create excellent attacking play.
Skipper Harries netted an early goal, and with midfielders Lucy Davies and Kate Howell working hard together, a strong sweep from Howell soon made it 2-0.
Ffion and Sioned Raymond got the next two goals, the latter following an excellent save by keeper Janine Owen.
Harries lifted the ball past the keeper for 5-0. From a short corner Ffion Raymond added a sixth, and Beca Ann Jones smashed in the seventh to round off a superb win.
Carmarthen awarded their player of the match to Lucy Davies and Whitchurch Saints awarded theirs to Siriol Richards.
On Saturday the seconds travel to Cardiff for their Challenge Cup semi-final against Cardiff Medics 2nds.
Carmarthen’s 3rd team played Haverfordwest 2nds in the development division south west.
Despite lots of pressure, forwards Alex Webster, Sacha Parry, Scarlett Mackenzie Jones and Keira Griffiths were unable to convert a couple of early chances.
Haverfordwest came back strongly but Carmarthen’s defence of Ffion Dart, Kim Stevens and Kate Williams kept them away from keeper Janine Owen until they eventually managed to score.
The second quarter saw Carmarthen hold their shape better and midfielders Poppy Mackenzie Jones, Marianne Spratt, Emily Gard and Caitlin Marshall tracked up and down the pitch tirelessly.
Haverfordwest made it 2-0, but the final quarter saw an uplift in Carmarthen’s performance. Alex Webster received the ball on the left and perfectly placed the ball for Griffiths to use her dribbling skills and slip the ball underneath the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
However, Haverfordwest were too strong and scored again.
Carmarthen fought hard and coaches Jackie Marshall and Kate Williams were impressed by the developing players and how far they have come during the season.
Carmarthen awarded their player of the match to Poppy Mackenzie Jones and Haverfordwest gave theirs to Keira Griffiths.