Devon Cup

Marjon thirds 3

Dartmouth’s cup run was like a weak tea bag, not in the cup that long...

Sometimes when you play teams and lose, you feel hard done by, sick to the stomach, angry and a bit disappointed.

Dartmouth felt nothing like that because every player played to their limit and left nothing on the pitch.

The only difference between the two teams was that Dartmouth’s players met a ‘keeper that was on top of her game.

The Marjon ‘keeper found her form and Dartmouth were lucky to get a single goal against her.

Both teams enjoyed a brilliant display of hockey, with Jamie Rendle-Streeter controlling the back four for Dart­mouth and Sam Webb controlling the midfield.

Jo Rendle putt in a full game instead of umpiring and Lauren Rogers linked up with Lucy Pillar and Alix Vincent.

It took Marjon nine minutes to score, but Dartmouth hit straight back and were unlucky three minutes later not to draw level.

Mandy Servan, racing down the right wing, crossed to Lucy Pillar, who saw her shot saved by the Marjon ‘keeper.

Ellie Langman, picking up the rebound, was just millimetres away from scoring.

Dartmouth kept the pressure on Marjon and with 20 minutes gone they were rewarded with a well-taken goal from Lucy Pillar.

Dartmouth were awarded a short corner and Mandy Servan slid the ball to Lucy Pillar, who dropped her shoulder, fooled the defender and pulled Dartmouth level.

The score stayed at one goal each despite both teams trying to outwit the other.

Alix Vincent, Lucy Pillar, Ellie Langman, Lauren Rogers and Mandy Servan all put the Marjon defence under pressure and went very close to scoring.

Jamie Rendle-Street­er, playing out of her skin, was drifting right, left and up the middle in defence, with Ellie Malley, Hannah Pillar and Darcey Wall doing their best to keep the Marjon attacks at bay.

The half-time team-talk from coach Matt Putt told the Dart­mouth ladies that they were playing really well and if it wasn’t for the Marjon ‘keeper, Dart­mouth would be at least two goals ahead.

With the break over, Dartmouth went for the jugular, but yet again Lucy Pillar and Alix Vincent came up against the stubborn, Marjon ‘keeper.

With 12 minutes gone, disaste struck when Marjon’s striker scored.

Dartmouth regroup­ed and pressed on but yet again their efforts were thwarted and it was Marjon that scored their third.

Dartmouth kept pressing but it wasn’t to be and Marjon went on to win three goals to one.

Dartmouth would have taken a lot from this game, with five games into the season Dartmouth have found some intricate passing and are getting used to the pitch, their stick control is getting a lot better and they can now concentrate on their league form.

Mandy Servan and Lucy Pillar were picked as supporters’ players of the match while Jamie Rendle-Streeter was picked as players’ player of the match. Richard Smalley kindly sponsored the game.

Dartmouth are back in league action this Saturday at Sidmouth, where they will be looking to emulate their five-goal win against Dart seconds when they take on Sidmouth and Ottery.