Travel-sick Oldham lose their control

Louise Howard: broken thumb

HOCKEY: 

A PLAYER lost through injury and two players sin-binned made it a miserable afternoon for Oldham in Division Two South-West of the North Manchester Hockey League.

The local outfit were beaten 3-1 at Cheshire-based Bowdon, after starting the match with high hopes of climbing into third place.

Oldham started strongly, but it was the hosts who went ahead after 15 minutes. The match was all-square again 10 minutes later thanks to a goal from Karen Rowley, but Oldham suffered a jolt before half-time when striker Louise Howard broke a thumb and was replaced by Ashleigh Jackson.

The second half followed in much the same vein as the first, with the visitors having the majority of the ball. But the game became heated and after Oldham found themselves on the wrong end of a couple of umpiring decisions, they conceded a second goal.

Tempers flared and two Oldham players were sent to the sin bin simultaneously, leaving them with nine.

With Chidi Onuoha outstanding in defence, Bowdon were made to work hard for their third goal, which eventully arrived as Oldham lost their composure and shape.