Erskine Stewart’s Melville 1
Fjordhus Reivers Ladies 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
A YOUTHFUL Fjordhus Reivers suffered an opening-day loss against an experienced Erskine Stewart’s Melville team.
Five minutes in, the capital side were awarded a penalty corner after the ball came off a foot, but it was extremely well saved by Borders keeper Stacey Tennant.
On 12 minutes, a lovely lifted through-ball by Kirsty Millar found Lucy Inglis clean through, one-on-one with the keeper, but the stopper saved well.
Stew Mel started the second half the much better team and upped the pace of the game, both in attack and defence.
Borders composure was found wanting on several occasions and this handed possession back to the hosts. The homesters were then awarded a penalty corner and despite a good save by Tennant, a subsequent goalmouth scramble saw Stew Mel take the lead.
Stew Mel were awarded another six penalty corners in the remainder of the game and it’s credit to the Borders defensive line-up of Janet Jack, Emily Newlands, Pippa Bell, Claire Townsend and Tennant, who prevented the home side going further ahead.
The best chance for the Borderers came on the hour when Bell’s superb pass found Inglis, who hit the post.
Fjordhus Reivers: C. Townsend, S. Tennant, D. Fairbairn, E. Newlands, J. Wilson, Z. Higgins, N. Wealleans, P. Bell, K. Millar, S. Mathers, J. Jack, E. Lunn, L. McLean, L. Inglis.