Borders Fjordhus 3
Erskine Stewart’s Melville 2
NATIONAL LADIES’ DIVISION TWO
FJORDHUS ladies welcomed the league leaders to Tweedbank, hoping to keep the momentum going from the previous week’s win.
A full-strength home team took to the astro and immediately exerted pressure on the visitors. After five minutes of play, they were rewarded with the opening goal.
Good passing involving Siobhan Murphy and Laura McLean saw the ball find Elena Lunn at back post to slam the ball home.
A lapse in concentration by Borders saw the visitors immediately equalize and the game sprang into life, proving a very physical and lively affair.
Fjordhus continued to enjoy large phases of possession and caused the city side all sorts of problems.
It was from this build-up play that the ball found McLean in the box for a shot which was saved by the onrushing keeper, only to rebound to captain Karen Cornwall, who hit a rasping low shot into the left-hand corner of the goal.
The half time whistle came with Borders firmly on the front foot.
The visitors started the second half more determined, with more pace and vigour.
They were quick on the break, but seemed intent on using the long pacey ball upfield, which was gratefully swallowed up by Pippa Bell at the heart of defence.
Pressure from the Borderers was causing the visitors to resort to some particularly bad, heavy-handed stick tackling and very physical play.
The homesters were awarded a penalty corner and Claire Townsend hit a beautiful strike past the diving keeper.
The umpires warned several visiting players about their dangerous play, and it was credit to Fjordhus that they did not get involved and stuck to the game plan.
However, a dubious decision saw the city side awarded a penalty corner on 25 minutes and a fierce strike by their captain pulled a goal back for the visitors.
This ensured the last 10 minutes was end-to-end play, with both teams attacking, but the Borders held out to the final whistle.
Borders Fjordhus: M. Murphy, G. Ross, P. Bell, J. Jack, E. Newlands, K. Cornwall, D. Fairbairn, S. Murphy, C. Townsend, L. Mclean, E. Lunn, N. Wealleans, L. Inglis, L. Dagg,