The Cougars returned from their Christmas break for a friendly match against local rivals Dart last Saturday and elected to play a youthful side, giving the up and coming squad members some genuine match experience without the pressure of a full league fixture. 

Vice Captain Bex Darke took charge and led the way right from pushback, encouraging the Cougars to take the game to Dart. This tactic soon paid off with Heather Jo Webber taking advantage of the early pressure to fire home from close range to give KS the lead. 

KS maintained the pressure with birthday girl Hannah Durrans and Tess Morris driving into the Dart defence to create chances. After another close run and clever ball into the danger area, Webber was on hand to grab her second as she turned the 'keeper and slotted home. 

Veteran sweeper Claire Jones and 'keeper Hayley Russell organised the defence, with Mara Roberto and Hannah Flintham both covering spells at right back and showing their progress with some great tackles and strong clearances. 

Sarah Budgen and Darke held the middle well, squeezing Dart into the tackles and breaking strongly whenever the opportunity arose, both coming close to scoring on a number of occasions. 

Dart played some fantastic hockey, driving up the pitch with great structure through their half's and showing excellent movement off the ball, which was soon rewarded with a well-taken goal to bring the score back to 2-1. 

Gemma Harvey covered left half and delivered a great performance, backing up Bell and linking with Lucy Croft, who played a stunning game at left back, channelling her marker into the corners and playing cleverly out of trouble when under pressure.  

Emily Read took charge of the game in the second half, constantly blocking any Dart progress down their left before countering strongly as she broke with the ball. After another great move and ball played into the D, a clever turn from Webber saw her reverse shot hit the post before Bell and Durrans scrambled it home over the line. 

Dart pulled a consolation goal back towards the end, but the Cougars finished with another spell of great pressure with Read running well at the defence and Webber unlucky not to complete her hat-trick, earning them both a shared woman-of-the-match award. 

The Cougars' midfield dynamo Chloe Harvey was on hand to support from the sidelines after a recent netball injury has put her out for several weeks, all of the Cougars wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her dominating on pitch again soon. 

A great start to the new year for the Cougars and a good showcase for the up and coming young talent within the club, KS return to league action on Saturday at home to Ottery Crickets.