Isle of Man women’s hockey team retained their inter-island hockey crown yesterday after a series of impressive performances over the weekend.
A hard fought victory against Bermuda kicked off the tournament on Friday night, which set the scene for the rest of the tournament, with a well organised defence ensuring that a single Island strike claimed both points on offer. It was more of the same on the Saturday as defences stayed on top, leading to 1-0 victories against both Jersey and Guernsey along with a goalless draw against the impressive Orkney Islands, a result which confirmed both teams’ places in Sunday’s final.
In front of a 250 strong crowd, Sunday’s match started as another cagey affair, with much industry but few attacking spoils for both teams in the opening 25 minutes. Just before half time however, the Isle of Man got the breakthrough, a surging run into the D and strike from the outstanding Zoe Carney, which the defence couldn’t clear, put back into the danger zone by Sarah Blackman and turned into the net by inter-island debutante Imogen Manning. Orkney however showed their quality by equalising a matter of minutes later, a firm strike from a short corner from Charlotte Thompson puncturing the Manx defence for the first time over the weekend. Island goalkeeper Sammy Jordan got a touch to the ball but unluckily could not keep out. Just before half time Zoe Carney scored with a solid strike from a short corner to make it 2-1.
As the second half started the Manx ladies, led by the Carney sisters in midfield, started to exert their influence and this led to space for a mazy run from youngster Laura Atkinson cutting through the Orkney defence, before dispatching the ball into the corridor of uncertainty between defence and goalkeeper, leading to the simplest of finishes for Sarah Blackman on the back post. Orkney pushed and pushed towards the end, but the Island’s very own brick walls Kirsty Bowley and Nicci Cain ensured that the game finished 3-1 and the Island celebrating another Inter Island victory as they retained their crown.
