28/2/15: Mendip mastered a massive upset in Brunel League Division 1 with an emphatic victory over table topping and previously unbeaten this season, Mid Somerset. Mendip expected a tough encounter and a largely defensive game but the 1st half was anything but.
The hosts applied lots of the early pressure playing good passing and moving hockey. They were rewarded early on with a goal from Captain Jackie Browning who unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the D. Browning then turned provider for left midfielder Karen Inns to sweep the ball home to increase their lead. Doubling her tally, Browning made the most of space offered to her by running at the defence to score with an emphatic strike ensuring Mendip had a 3 goal lead by half time.
Mendip had dominated play during the 1st half and knew that the visitors would look to come out strongly for the 2nd to gain a foot hold in the match. The Mendip defence were equal to the task. Solid defending from Grace Harding, Cosima Burgess and Becky Kettle enabled them to soak up the pressure. For the 2nd week running it was centre back Esther Selway who put in a player of the match performance with great tackling and support play.
Inevitably the visitors did manage to score on 3 occasions during the 2nd half but each time they did, Mendip replied with another goal to ensure Mid Somerset were constantly chasing the game. Centre forward Carol Holmes bagged her brace with a cracking goal scored from a well worked short corner routine. The other following determined work in the D to make room for her back board cracking shot. Mendip’s 5th goal was scored by left wing Connie Glover. The visitors had been struggling to contain her attacking threat all match and she scored a great individual goal connecting with a through ball into the D to calmly slip it under the approaching keeper.
With the visitors increasingly allowing their frustrations to affect their game play they were reduced to 10 men shortly before the final whistle. Following an altercation a Mid Somerset player removed herself from the field of play which did cast a shadow over proceedings. However this should not detract in any way from Mendip’s victory as they proved themselves the better team on the day.
Next week Mendip travel to play Keynsham.
Karen Inns
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