Petroc division one

Torbay 4,

Dartmouth 3

Dartmouth can be proud of their performance, they gave everything and played with passion, finesse, accuracy and gusto.

Torbay may have earned the bragging rights in this match, but Dartmouth left the pitch feeling cleansed.

So often in matches such as these, both teams can learn so much from each other and this was one of those games.

Torbay learnt that Dartmouth are a much improved team and when the chips were down, Dartmouth pick up the gauntlet and give it both barrels.

Dartmouth learnt that if you give teams like Torbay a chance, they will take it. It was nice to see the reaction from the players on the final whistle. Torbay looked like they were a much-relieved team whereas Dartmouth looked like they en­joyed the encounter and can't wait for the rematch.

Dartmouth looked the more nervous at the start, but once they hit their stride they were the better of the two teams.

Mandy Servan and Sarah Barrett, linking up well on the left, put pressure on the Torbay defence, but Torbay showed they were dangerous on the counter after Darts overcommitted players.

Torbay opened the scoring in the eight minute from another counter-attack.

Dartmouth, however, didn't stop attacking, switching play well with the dependable Jamie Rendle and Lisa Hunt.

Seven minutes later, Dartmouth pushed up on the right through Jamie and Lisa before Lisa released Lucy Pillar and the Dart­mouth assassin buried the ball past the Torbay 'keeper to level the score.

Six minutes later Torbay, with another counter-attack, hit the back of the Dartmouth net again to take the score to two goals to one.

Dartmouth were determined to get the scores level again, with Sarah Barrett, Mandy Servan and skipper Lucy Pillar unlucky not to get the elusive goal.

Torbay weren't finished yet and soaked up the Dartmouth pressure before getting their third of the morning on the half-hour mark.

Then came the fightback. Dartmouth, stun­ned by the third goal, hit Torbay with everything they had. Chloe Edwards took a short corner, sliding the ball to Jamie Rendle.

Rendle hit the ball towards the Torbay goal, with the Torbay 'keeper making the save but unable to prevent Jamie picking up the rebound and smashing the ball into the goal to kick-start the comeback.

Two minutes later and with the half-time whistle beckoning, Lucy Pillar, putting in a skipper's performance, picked the ball up from open play, passing the ball to Sam Webb before she returned the ball to Lucy.

Lucy took the ball into the opposition's D and smashed the ball into Torbay's net and level the score at three apiece.

Two minutes later the umpires called a halt to the first half and there was a well-deserved break for the Dartmouth lad­ies.

The second half was a game of blink and you lose.

Dartmouth's defence held Torbay's attack and they tried to on the counter.

Ellie Malley and Chloe Edwards put in hard yards for Dart­mouth, Ellie making some re­markable saves and Chloe literally putting her body on the line.

Chelsey Rendle and Siobhan Edwards were stopping the Torbay attack and feeding the left and right wings.

Sam Webb, Hannah Pillar and Sarah Barrett controlling the midfield and feeding Lucy Pillar.

Coach Matt Putt de­cided to make a change, midway into the second half, bringing off Chelsey Rendle and bringing on Jo Rendle.

Unfortunately, Dart­mouth blinked first and Torbay scored with a goal against the run of play.

Lucy Pillar came close in the final few minutes of the second half, only for the Tor­bay 'keeper to make a match-winning save.

With the umpires calling an end to the two-town showdown and victory went to Torbay. Matt Putt apologised to the two re­maining Dartmouth re­placements, Becca Squires and Darcey Wall.

They of course will start the next game which will be against Dawlish this Saturday.

The Dartmouth team and backroom staff would like to thank all the supporters who came and watched an outstanding display of open hockey and with support like that every week it will only feed the hunger the Dart­mouth ladies have for this wonderful game.

Ellie Malley won the player-of-the-match award for her remarkable goal keeping and her vocal input during the game.