HOCKEY: AN EXCELLENT performance by Warwick Ladies showed how they can compete against the very top teams in their league after coming away from Solihull Blossomfield with a 2-2 draw.
With that elusive win finally under their belt after last week’s fixture against Belper, Warwick arrived at the familiar Blossomfield turf on Saturday with a spring in their step.
The visitors started with strength and determination showing that despite their position of ninth in the table, they were far from being a pushover.
Kirstin Bryce and Helen Barron provided the impetus in the centre, making the most of the incisive runs from Alyssa Mildenstein and ably supported by Izzy Hurst and Emily Ingall-Tombs in midfield.
Their early dominance paid off when Helen Barron earned a short corner following one of her hallmark driving runs into the D and Izzy calmly converted from a rebound.
Solihull responded by stepping up their game but captain Becky Weaver demonstrated her usual composure when under attack, thwarting Solihull’s efforts to penetrate the D on a number of occasions.
Keeper Sophie Hutsby kept the ball out of the goal with some excellent saves, but eventually the home team found a way to unravel the Warwick defence, finding a free player who took the opportunity to level the score.
Players of the match Helen Simpson and Katie Rankin worked tirelessly in the middle of the pitch to move the ball around, where possible finding Mel Best and Izzy Hurst who worked together to put pressure on Solihull’s weaker side.
Claire Noad’s determined display on the pitch injected both the defensive support and the skilful attack that they needed and Warwick began to get on top of the home side once again.
The team’s hard work paid off when Helen Barron found the back of the net after picking up a rebound from Kirstin Bryce’s initial shot during open play on her reverse stick side.
Now with a 2-1 lead, Warwick looked comfortable and in control but in the final minutes of the match they were able to find another equaliser and earn a share of the spoils.
Despite the frustrating outcome, Warwick take away an excellent performance from the fixture and with a renewed confidence that they will take into their next match against Boots.
