Sidmouth Toucans sign off with a defeat as Honiton Winter League campaign ends for them

The end result was similar to those that then team have experienced throughout a tough campaign, but in each game they have shown progress and the final one was also within that category.

The game began in the dry, but there was a gusty wind blowing which took a while for both sets of players to get the hang of!

During the first quarter the wind was certainly an issue and three of the opposition took a tumble!

The first quarter proved to be the most profitable one for the Toucans in terms of goal scoring as they found the net four times through Louise Neilson, GS and Sarah Burston, GA, both usually to be found working hard in the Toucans defence, but on this occasion tasked with work at the other end of the court!

From there on Flamingos pulled away despite the efforts of centre court players, Rachel Darlami, Lesley Hall and Lucy Davies, who went on to receive the Player of the Match award.

Sarah Fletcher, GK and Louise Hastie, GD, had a very busy time in the circle keeping the Flamingos at bay and trying to judge where the wind might make the ball end up on the rebound!

Alexa Baker took up GS after half time and scored arguably the goal of the night! Unfortunately for the Toucans stalwart, that one exceptional score proved to be her only one in the game!

Louise Neilson ended the game with four to her name, but the team fell agonisingly a single goal short of their 10-goal total they had set themselves for the final match.

For the record, Flamingos won the game 44-9.

Alexa Baker said post match: “The winter league has seen several changes within the team and we are grateful to everyone who has played for us, sometimes at short notice.

Big thanks go to captain Sarah Sparks who has coped marvellously with the changes and always managed to field a team. The Toucans are looking forward to the summer league which starts in March and their new signing, watch this space!”