Promotion glory for Carmarthen in last game

CARMARTHEN Ladies’ Hockey Club 1sts were away to Rhondda 2nds for their last game of the season and sealed promotion to division one of the South Wales Hockey League thanks to a 2-0 win. Division two champions Llandysul 1sts also went up.

Carmarthen flew out the blocks and forwards Ffion Wyn Jones, Beck Cartland, Megan Davies and Maya Davies were effective in attack, which resulted in two goals in quick succession.

The first came from a ball being driven down the back line by Anna Knuckles. She passed the ball back to the P spot where Megan Davies slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

The second was scored from a ball being taken from a free hit. Sophie Palmer hit the ball to Maya Davies on the post, who tapped the ball in.

The defence of Keira Griffiths, Kate Williams, and Ffion Dart held strong and keeper Jackie Marshall made some excellent saves, while midfielders Megan Henry, Anna Knuckles, Sophie Palmer and Anna Heath worked tirelessly.

Player of the match from Carmarthen went to Kate Williams and from Rhondda to Sophie Palmer.

Carmarthen’s 2nd XI travelled to Cardiff to play Cardiff Medics 2nds in their cup semi-final but despite an excellent display were unlucky to lose 1-0.

Carmarthen were still settling into the game when a quick break from Medics allowed them to use their numbers to get around Carmarthen’s defence and open the scoring.

This was the wake-up call Carmarthen needed and they started to play excellently, finally starting to play like the team they have developed into throughout the season.

Carmarthen centre midfields Lucy Davies and Lili Church worked hard to create triangles and distribute the ball well, giving wing-backs Sioned Raymond, Kate Howell and Scarlett Mackenzie-Jones an opportunity to create space out wide and a chance to use their speed to dribble up the line to the forwards.

Carmarthen forwards Siriol Richards, Charlotte Harries, Beca Ann Jones and Emily Gard used excellent one-twos to get around the Medics defence and create some promising attacks.

Defenders Marianne Spratt, player of the match Ffion Evans, Caitlin Marshall and Leia Thomas were excellent at the back and Carmarthen, playing the best hockey they had played all season, were unlucky not to convert this pressure into goals.