EXCITEMENT is mounting for Bretforton Ladies Masters after it was confirmed they will face Folkestone Optimists in the final of the England Masters O35s National Shield.
The Kent side booked their place in the final thanks to a late 2-1 victory at Stourport on Sunday which ended prospects of an all-Worcestershire final.
Tickets are now on sale for the final and more details about travel arrangements can be found at www.bretfortonladieshockey.com.
The Pink Ladies have enjoyed a fine run of results to book their place in the April 30 showpiece at Lee Valley Olympic Park hockey centre in London having defeated Northants Saints 5-2, Carlisle 3-2 on penalty flicks after a 3-3 draw and Norwich City 4-1.
BRETFORTON Ladies saw off bottom side Wotton-under-Edge 2-0 on Saturday to move up to seventh place in West Clubs Women’s Hockey League North Division.
The Pink Ladies knew victory was the order of the day as they bid to move clear of the relegation zone and their success leaves them above three teams with two games to play, whilst the trio below them have just one match remaining.
The home team came out the stronger of the two and were unlucky not to score in the opening couple of minutes as they mounted wave after wave of attack.
The hosts were rewarded for their dominance when Dani Cox got the better of a battle of sticks in the area and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0.
Cox nearly found herself on the scoresheet for a second time shortly afterwards but her strike on goal from a short corner was disallowed due to a ‘high ball’.
Bretforton worked hard to increase their lead before half time and some clever hockey from player of the match Molly Stock created openings on both sides of the pitch, but the hosts were unable to score again before the break.
In the second half Bretforton continued to pressurise the visitors and a pacy run along the right and a perfectly timed cross from Hannah Dufty gave Tess Lewinton the chance to sweep for the ball, but unfortunately she could not find the right contact to put the ball into the back of the net.
Wotton’s best chance of the game came when they were awarded a succession of short corners. At one point, due to breaking too early, the Bretforton defence was reduced to only two defenders and the keeper, but still Wotton could not break through and the home team retained their advantage.
Some great triangles and running off the ball between Alice Cook and Emma Lowe led to multiple chances to increase Bretforton’s lead, but Cook was unable to make the most of her one-on-ones with the keeper in the area.
Cook was rewarded eventually though with a short corner shot from the edge of area and she slipped the ball into the left-hand corner to make it 2-0.
Wotton did not fold and were only denied a goal by a superb save by Lily Harrison-Perkins as she prevented the ball from flying into the top right corner.
Bretforton finish their season next month with away matches at Old Bristolians on April 2 and Lansdown on April 16.