Oldham pay penalty for slow starts

LOUISE HOWARD

HOCKEY: 

OLDHAM’S first team was far from disgraced in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of North Division Two South-West leaders, Lymm.

Slow starts in both halves proved costly for the local side, which was fired up to take on the high fliers.

Oldham conceded within the first couple of minutes, but grew into the game and replied towards the end of the first half through Louise Howard.

Oldham were slow out of the blocks again after the break and paid the penalty when Lymm regained the lead. Following an Oldham short corner, Lymm counter-attacked with pace to make it 3-1.

Oldham wasn’t finished though, and when Rebecca Blair found the in-form Rowley the latter skilfully lifted the ball over the ’keeper with a reverse-stick shot.

Oldham had momentum and sensed they could get something from the game, but their efforts came to nothing as Lymm consolidated their position at the top of the table.