Hockey: Melville City women open campaign with draw

MELVILLE City Hockey Club’s women opened their season with a 2-2 draw away to a strong YMCC team.

After a committed preseason under new head coach Mal Cowan, Melville started brilliantly with both defenders and midfield moving the ball swiftly to supply the strikes with some quality attacking opportunities.

Within five minutes, Melville was rewarded with a penalty corner, which was converted by Hope Jobe.

The quality of the ball movement continued for most of the first half with Melville recording 17 circle entries.

Unfortunately, through some basic skill errors, lack of decisiveness in front of goal, and some good goalkeeping by YMCC, the score remained 1-0 going into half time.

YMCC changed the way it pressed in the second half, which proved to be a good move as Melville began to look for long passes out of the back rather than continuing with balls into the midfield.

The home side made the most of its attacking opportunities and pulled the score back to 1-1 early in the first half through a well-executed penalty corner.

YMCC’s strong midfield began to stamp its authority on the game and before long it had converted yet another penalty corner to take the lead 2-1.

Despite a tremendous first save by Melville goalkeeper Erin Judd, Amelia Spence put away her second for the night by one-timing the ball into the back of the net.

The intensity of the game never fell away as Melville searched for an equaliser.

The structure of the strikers and midfield continued to provide the visitors with goal scoring chances and with eight minutes remaining Roos Broek pounced, by ripping a goal from the top of the circle.

Melville earned a penalty corner with two minutes remaining but some strong YMCC defence ensured the match ended in a 2-2 draw.