Petroc Division One

Isca IV 2

Dartmouth got 2017 under way against the University ladies from Exeter and it was a close contest.

Dartmouth were without key players Sarah Barrett, Mandy Servan, Lauren Rogers, Becca Squires and Jo Rendle, with Jo once again unselfishly choos­ing to umpire instead of playing.

It was also a welcome return of Lisa Hunt after the birth of her pride and joy Ashley James Ansell.

It took a little while for both teams to settle, though Isca tested out Dartmouth ‘keeper Ellie Malley.

However, Malley was in no mood to give anything to Isca; if they wanted anything it would have to be something special to get past her.

With 12 minutes of the first half gone, Malley was called into action and she kept Dartmouth in with a shout with a fantastic reaction save.

Ten minutes later, Lucy Pillar was unlucky not to get on the score sheet after a brilliant solo run, picking the ball up from deep only to be denied by the Isca ‘keeper.

Soon after Isca failed to pick up on a training ground move and were punished by the Dartmouth assassin.

This time Charley Langman picked the ball up from her own half, passed to Pillar and she made no mistake this time to slot the ball home.

Isca drew level four minutes later from a short corner and could have gone into the break at half time with the lead, but Ellie Malley made another brilliant save and the score remained level up to the half-time whistle.

Dartmouth’s coach Matt Putt had some encouraging words for the ladies at half time, asking the team to keep their heads, get the ball out wide, try to stretch the opposition and hopefully get an early second-half goal.

Putt put the same team out at the start of the second half but the Darts were soon a goal behind, once more Isca scoring from a short corner in the first minute of the restart.

With 30 minutes to go, Matt Putt replaced Freya Bradley and brought on Lisa Hunt. Lisa made good use of the right wing and with a couple more games under her belt, will be back to full match fitness.

As the game progressed, Matt Putt made changes on the pitch, moving Charley Langman, Ellie Lang­man and Lucy Pillar in an attempt to shore up the defence and counter attack.

Try as they might, Dartmouth couldn’t pull back the deficit and Isca came away with the points. The match was sponsored by Micky’s Taxis.

Micky’s brother Alan Wadeson turned up and watched the game and because of the defeat he’s banned from any future home games...

Hannah Pillar received players’ player of the match while Lucy Pillar received supporters’ player of the match.

Dartmouth are away this week against New­ton Abbot. New­ton are just below Dartmouth, so the ladies will not take anything for granted and will try and come away with the spoils.

The game pushes back at 12.30 at Tor­quay Girls’ Grammar School.