Hockey: Four points in two days see Nomads to league title

Lancaster Nomads 1st celebrated the end of their season by coming top in the Lancashire Central Women's Hockey Association Division One, gaining promotion to the Premier Division.
Lancaster Nomads.Lancaster Nomads.
Lancaster Nomads.

It took a bumper double match weekend to clinch the title, firstly drawing 2-2 with Garstang Ladies on Saturday and then beating Witton Warriors 4-0 on Sunday.

Amy Leck put Nomads ahead against Garstang just before half time after Hazel Irwin drove through several Garstang players to set up Leck who remained composed in front of goal.

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Nomads extended their lead when Chloe Fisher won a penalty corner which was expertly struck into the bottom left corner by Leck.

Garstang’s hard work and passing paid off when they scored in open play to make it 2-1 before keeper and player of the match Rachel Mackie kept Nomads ahead with an outstanding diving save.

However, Garstang were allowed to equalise with a lifted strike into the top of the net to make it 2-2 which meant that Nomads had to win against Witton Warriors on the Sunday to finish top of the league.

Nomads were a lot calmer against Witton Warriors and Alison Davies came close to putting Nomads ahead but her lifted flick just brushed the top of the post. However, player of the match Leck scored her third goal of the weekend from a pin point penalty corner strike to put Nomads in front.

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Nomads’ second of the afternoon was created when Irwin drove to the base line and pulled back to the penalty spot for Sarah Hampson to sweep the ball past the keeper.

Alice Phipps then won Nomads another penalty corner and clever interplay from Leck and Irwin gave top goal scored Irwin her 24th goal of the season.

The Nomads dominated the majority of the second half but Witton had some good passages of play, winning a 
sequence of penalty corners. Nomads’ clean sheet looked under threat when they had two defenders sent back to the half way line for breaking early but Witton were unable to take advantage.

Nomads won a penalty corner at the other end and Leck’s strike was deflected in at the left post by Hampson for her second of the match.

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The final whistle blew and a 4-0 victory signalled Nomads securing the top spot in the table and guaranteed promotion.

Nomads have reached their highest league position in their history and look forward to many more exciting moments and challenges in Premiership hockey.