| Match Report |
Caradon played Newquay in what was a very entertaining semi final and clinched their place in the final with a 3-2 win.
For the first time this season, Caradon were underdogs as Newquay finished mid table in the league above.
Caradon had their game plan set and took the lead within 10 minutes when top goal scorer, Bizzie Dinnis, finished from close range after a good penalty corner combination with Molly Walsh.
The goal seemed to stun Newquay and Caradon were enjoying lots of good passing phases of hockey. Libby Walsh and Saffy Barriball-Cripps played with a maturity beyond their years and with Beth Harris keeping the shape of the team compact, Newquay could not get out of their half.
Dinnis was hungry for the ball and drawing defenders towards her meant that Clare Mitchell was left with a clinical finish when Dinnis' perfect pass found her.
At 2-0 half time was approaching Newquay were awarded a penalty flick after a foul on the line which was converted to give hope to Division 1 team.
The second half was full of incident. 2 green cards and 2 yellow cards meant Caradon only played at full strength for nearly half of the second half. Injuries to gallant defenders Amy Batty and Lucie Kay meant the team had to adapt quickly to changing situations, which they did brilliantly.
With 20 minutes to play Player of the Match, Dinnis, scored what can only be described as a worldie. Beating numerous players and rounding the keeper led to huge celebrations but Newquay would not go away and would pile the pressure on, desperate to get back into the game. 2 further penalty flicks were awarded, harshly in the travelling spectators view. One of these were converted leaving the game finely balanced with Caradon giving everything they had to hang on to the win. Molly Walsh and Clare Mitchell worked tirelessly in the centre of the park, in a performance that can be described as heroic.
Falmouth 1s await in the final where Caradon will again be underdogs, but with a team spirit that this team have.....anything is possible.
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