ISCA fourths 1,

This game was all about determination, speed and accuracy. Dartmouth were strong­er, fitter and totally deserved this win writes Jeff Hunt.

Last year Dartmouth ladies were on the end of an eight goals to nil drubbing by the ISCA team, but that never entered the Dartmouth ladies' heads.

As far as they were concerned that was last year and this year is a different team and a different game. This was a team effort and a worthy victory. Dart­mouth's defence was resolute, the midfield was strong and quick and the attack was decisive.

Dartmouth started at a furious pace, a pace which ISCA found hard to contain. With a quick pass from Siobhan Ed­wards with 10 minutes gone to, new signing Mandy Servan crossed the ball across the ISAC's goal. Lisa Hunt, sprinting into the opposition's D, slipped the ball past the helpless ISCA 'keeper.

From then on it was end to end, but Dart­mouth's Chelsey Ren­dle was having a brilliant game at right-back and mopped up any ISCA challenge.

Julie Pillar and daughter Hannah kept the centre and left hand side unbreakable as well.

This defensive combination let Siobhan Edwards and Sarah Barrett have a commanding and attacking roll and on the half-hour mark, Lisa Hunt was at it again.

Mandy Servan, receiving the ball from Dartmouth's centres Siobhan and Sarah, sprinted down the left wing, crossing the ball and again Lisa evaded the ISCA defence to slot the ball past the 'keeper.

The score stayed 2-0 until the half-time whistle.

Skipper Lucy Pillar's half-time talk was to ask the Dartmouth's central combination to slow it down a bit in the second half but to keep playing some of the same eye-watering hockey that they had shown for the first 35 minutes.

Barrett and Edwards were having none of that and the second half started at the same pace as the first.

It took just six minutes of the second half until Lisa Hunt was in the right place again, her hat-trick goal coming from a short corner.

Sarah Barrett passed the ball to Lucy Pillar, who slipped the ball to the back post where Lisa Hunt duly finished past the ISCA 'keeper and into the goal for a well-deserved hat-trick.

Dartmouth kept pressing and Lucy Pillar and Mandy Servan were unlucky not to get on the score sheet. Jamie Rendle put in her usual hard working shift, as did Ellie Malley.

Coach Matt Putt rang the changes with 20 minutes gone, Julie Pillar making room for Becca Squires and Chelsey Rendle letting Jo Rendle have a run out.

The changes didn't unhinge the Dartmouth team, but with just two minutes to go, ISCA had a short corner and a shot from the hosts came off a Dartmouth player's stick and rolled past the Dartmouth 'keeper.

With the full-time whistle blown, the Dartmouth ladies were ecstatic and were worthy winners of this brilliant show of hockey.

Siobhan Edwards was voted player of the match for her unsung heroics at the back in defence.

For those of you that were wondering, Isca was the Latin name for Exeter.

Dartmouth take on Exe thirds this Saturday at their adopted hockey home at Kingsbridge Community College with a 12.30pm pushback.

Dartmouth are hoping that Vi and twin Daisy Miller will be able to pull a Dart­mouth shirt on again.