Karen’s screamer sets first on way

HOCKEY: KAREN Rowley scored a screamer to set Oldham on the way to a 5-2 win away at Moss Park in Division One of the Greater Manchester League.

Rowley’s effort flew into the top corner — putting her as a firm contender for the ‘goal of the season gong’ — and set the tone for a dominant performance.

Oona Cassidy was next to find the net, taking a pass from Louise Howard across half the pitch and decimating the defence in the process of scoring with a superb effort. She then doubled her own tally to lead buoyant Oldham into half-time.

Moss Park responded with a goal scored off a penalty corner, but composure was soon regained by the visitors.

Cracking goals by Howard and captain Rachael Johnson preceded a late consolation for the home side, with the player-of-the-match award for Oldham — who remain three points clear at the top of the table — going to Cassidy.



A 3-2 home loss to Urmston saw Oldham’s second team slip to fifth in the division.
A strong start was capitalised on by a Gill Lord goal, smashed in from a penalty corner.

That was how it stayed until the second half, when a string of penalty corners for the visitors resulted in an equaliser.

Two further Urmston goals gave the visitors a lead which was halved by a fantastic strike from Sarah ‘Billy’ Barlow — and the same player would have levelled but for the goalkeeper’s helmet keeping out her effort.