Devon Trophy

Dart Totnes 0,   Dartmouth 2

This game was never going to be easy for the Dartmouth ladies, having played their league game just 24 hours before, and it showed in the first half.

Take nothing away from this well-drilled Dartmouth hockey team, they gave it their all, but it was always going to be a big ask.

The first half started off at its usual pace for Dartmouth, but Dart Totnes was not going

to give in easily. Dartmouth were pressing up the pitch, with Dart Totnes trying to break on the counter attack.

Dartmouth's Violet Miller must have covered every blade of the artificial grass; Jamie Rendle put in her usual busy shift; and Sam Webb and Sarah Barrett controlled the midfield. Both teams tried to break the deadlock, but neither gave an inch, and so it stayed at 0-0 up to half-time. 

The second half opened up a bit for both teams, but it was Di Bradley's link-up play with Lisa Hunt that ultimately saw the first points.

Hunt received the ball from Rendle, then crossed to Bradley, who smashed the ball into the net four minutes into the second half. Eight minutes later Hunt was on the scoresheet herself with another well-worked goal from open play. Sarah Barrett picked the ball up from deep and squared it to Hunt, who skipped passed two defenders and placed the ball expertly past the oncoming keeper.

With Dartmouth pressing for a third, it left their defence a bit vulnerable, but Chloe and Siobhan Edwards were more than capable of keeping a well-deserved clean sheet.

Indeed, Dartmouth were more than happy with their second-half performance and are relishing their league encounter against Dart Totnes this Saturday.