SOHC Ladies 4, Taunton Vale 3rds 1 On a wet and windy Saturday morning SOHC ladies got the second half of their league campaign off to a winning start and also avenged an early season 5-2 defeat to the same opposition, writes Lea Pidgeon.

The home side looked ready and raring to go from the outset. There was some great flowing hockey from all round the pitch and the defence looked solid which enabled the midfield to link up with the forwards creating numerous chances.

The first goal came after a good break down the right from Mazie Pritchard, she found Sophie Jackson in front of goal and Jackson slotted her shot away with great composure.

SOHC continued to dominate play and it wasn’t long before Pritchard put a great ball through that split the Vale defence and found goal hanger Lea Pidgeon who placed the ball in the back of the net to double SOHCs advantage.

With a lapse of concentration and SOHC losing their shape, Vale got back in the game scoring just before the interval, making it 2-1 to the home side at half time.

Coach McVeys hal- time team talk concentrated on keeping the teams shape, playing with confidence, holding onto possession and taking chances when they arrived.

With McVeys words ringing in their ears, SOHC started the second half well with great determination, pressing forward at every opportunity and were soon rewarded with a penalty flick after a Vale defender illegally saved the ball on the line with her foot. Unfortunately the opportunity was not taken as Pidgeon’s flick flew wide of the target.

This gave Vale some confidence and they started to put some pressure on the SOHC defence but Captain Sarah Hutchins led by example, make a crucial interception before finding her aging Vice-Captain Sara Roberts with a clinical pass. Roberts quickly moved the ball onto Pidgeon at the top of the D and she redeemed herself with a first time shot that slammed into the back of the net.

With the team full of confidence, a fourth goal seemed inevitable and it was SOHCs young talent that led the charge as Ellie Marok, Sophie Jackson and Mazie Pritchard all linked well before Jackson, having bamboozled the Vale centre half with her slick stick work, hit a crisp shot from the top of the D to score her second and make the final score 4-1.

Coach McVey was glowing with pride by the final whistle as once again his Jose Mourinho style, tactical masterpiece had brought his girls a comfortable victory against troublesome opposition.

The team will look for more of the same tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to Old Bristolians who beat them 4-2 when the team’s met at Sidmouth in early October.