Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC) ladies’ first XI were 3-2 winners in their Petroc Division One meeting with Exe.

Prior to the game, there was a most unusual experience for the SOHC players as they were forced to wait while the hosts took a saw to the padlock so that entry could be gained to the pitch!

Despite a delayed start, SOHC started well and put Exe under pressure from the very start.

The movement of the ball was very slick with Rachel Ward, Alice Please and Megan Thompson-Summers all influential in the early stages and it was some well-worked passing in and out of the D that eventually led to Jasmine Scott firing SOHC in front.

Exe hit back and levelled, but thereafter, some fearless defending from the likes of Hannah Peters, Katie Underwood, Naomi Gammon and Jodie Parsons, who all showed great skill under pressure, kept the home side at arm’s length and when they were breached, goalkeeper Becky Delasalle made some fine saves.

Izzy Stribling and Emma Hext continued to carry a threat with some sharp and positive breaks before another break, this time led by Hannah Dale, saw Aimee Keast fire SOHC back into the lead, which was carried through into the interval.

After the break, Exe began strongly and parity was soon restored. Once pegged back, SOHC dug deep and found a new gear. They also remained calm, even as the clock ticked down and it was no more than they deserved when, with two minutes to go, Jasmine Scott scored what proved to be the winning goal.

The SOHC Player of the Match award was shared by Naomi Gammon, for a brilliant first game, and Jodie Parsons, who served up a shift of solid defensive work.