FRIENDLY March Town Ladies 1st XI 0 St.Ives Ladies 1st XI 4 MARCH will go into tomorrow s return to league action against lowly Bourne second team full of confidence, despite losing this friendly match. The home goalkeeper Julie Ingham won the Player of

FRIENDLY

March Town Ladies 1st XI 0 St.Ives Ladies 1st XI 4

MARCH will go into tomorrow's return to league action against lowly Bourne second team full of confidence, despite losing this friendly match.

The home goalkeeper Julie Ingham won the Player of the Match award as she produced some stunning saves to prevent a strong St Ives outfit from recording an even bigger win.

But Town will expect nothing less than victory when they travel to Bourne, a side they have already beaten 9-1 this season, for an NE14 Hockey East League match.

March started well in Saturday's friendly, but soon found themselves under pressure from a strong visiting side.

The defence battled well to contain the St Ives forwards, and broke several times to create some decent scoring chances. There was excellent defensive play from Kate Hurn, Katie Rodger and Angie Rodger as March held the opposition until midway through the half, when St.Ives opened the scoring.

March fought back well and tried to get their fluent passing game going.

There were some excellent runs from midfield from Shereen Hutton, while Verity Allen and captain Anna Whittome battled hard in midfield to regain possession.

In the second half, March again tried to pressure St Ives and play their own game, but found it very difficult to break from midfield where the visitors were very competitive.

St Ives went on to score a further three goals. It could have been more but keeper Ingham's fantastic form.

March had a couple of good chances late in the game but good goalkeeping and a strong St.Ives defence prevented the home side from scoring.

FRIENDLY

St Ives Ladies 2nd XI 9 March Town Ladies 2nd XI 1

FIELDING a depleted side, with no recognised goalkeeper or midfield players, March struggled throughout the entire 70 minutes of Saturday's friendly fixture.

Untidy defending from March saw the hosts take a very early lead and with March's midfield completely over-run, the lead stretched to 3-0 within the first 15 minutes.

As ever, Petrina Cartwright and Player of the Match Sue Heaver, both played outstanding games but the March midfield and defence had little answer or resistance to the much stronger St Ives side who went into half-time 6-0 ahead.

In the second half, March were much stronger and it wasn't until late in the half that St Ives added to their first-half score, with two more goals.

March pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining, following a neat one-two between Rachel Wright and Bekki Wood down the right, which released Hayley Carver, who dribbled the ball into the circle and around the defence to slot home her first ever goal for March Ladies Hockey Club.

St Ives finished off the game with their ninth goal in the last 30 seconds, to end a dismal game for March.

March are in Cambridgeshire Ladies' League Premier Division Cup action when they entertain Cambridge University 3rd XI tomorrow from 2.30pm.