Petroc division one

Isca fifths 2,

A welcome return of Mandy Servan, Sarah Barrett and Siobhan Edwards, making their usual solid performances.

This week Chloe Edwards took a precautionary week off after receiving a blow to the head in the Teignmouth game.

Another solid performance from Hannah Pillar in defence earned her the player of the match award and there was the welcome return of coach Matt Putt after taking a well-deserved break two weeks ago.

This time Putt was putting out a team in readiness for this week's clash against Torbay. Dartmouth needed to win this game to stand any chance of promotion this season.

Dartmouth started off brightly and it looked like it was going to be a long morning for Isca.

Sarah Barrett, picking the ball from the centre and dribbling past a couple of Isca players, released Lucy Pillar just inside Isca's D and she slotted the ball home inside the first minute.

After the shock of going a goal behind so quickly, Isca tightened up their defence and it was on the 15-minute mark before Dartmouth found the back of the net again.

Siobhan Edwards, took a short corner to Sarah Barrett, who cleverly scooped the ball over the advancing Isca defence.

The Isca 'keeper made the save, only to be thwarted by the Dartmouth assassin, Lucy Pillar, who picked up the rebound and put the ball past the helpless 'keeper.

Dartmouth started to play their usual high-tempo attacking hockey and were caught on the counter, Isca getting a lucky deflection in their own half and breaking quick to score for their first of the morning.

That remained the score up to the half time break, with Dart­mouth having to have a word with themselves to try and get the two-goal cushion they needed to break the Isca team.

The second half started with the usual fast pace but Dartmouth couldn't break the stubborn Isca defence.

Wave after wave of attacks were pouring at the Isca players but they wouldn't give in.

Sam Webb was linking up with Sarah Barrett and Siobhan Edwards, Lisa Hunt and Jamie Rendle were putting the right wing under attack and Mandy Servan was doing her damage on the left wing, with Lucy Pillar dropping back to pick the ball up from deep.

Finally in the 17th minute Mandy Servan got the goal that Dart­mouth so richly deserved. Jamie Rendle fed Lisa Hunt, who slid the ball to the far post, where Mandy pushed it past the 'keeper.

Matt Putt could start to relax and bring on the fringe players again.

Off came Lisa Hunt to make way for Becca Squires and off came Julie Pillar, after another solid performance in defence, to make way for Lauren Rogers.

The changes didn't stop the onslaught but the game started to fizzle out and with only seconds to go, Isca got a second but it was too little, too late.

As mentioned before, Dartmouth are at home this Saturday in a must-win game. This game will be about discipline, desire and destruction.

All Dartmouth need to do is keep their heads and there should be no reason why they can't come away with a victory.

So if you're free this Saturday, please come down to Kingsbidge Community College and watch an entertaining game of hockey. The game will start at 12.30pm.