TENBY LADIES 2 CARMARTHEN 1

Tenby Ladies hockey team played their penultimate league game against last year's champions, Carmarthen, at the Pembroke Astroturf pitch on Sunday. This was a must win game, with Tenby holding a slim lead ahead of Carmarthen at the top of the league table.

From the initial whistle, Carmarthen applied pressure and were rewarded with a penalty corner. This was cleared and Tenby settled to play a fluent passing game that has become their trademark this season.

The Carmarthen 'D' was put under pressure, but Tenby could not convert their chances. Sarah C provided some penetrating runs down the left wing, linking with Pauline, but midway through the half she was injured by a blow from the ball to the head, so the line-up was changed. Sarah S came to right-half and Mims to left-back.

Mandy, Julie and Barney dominated the midfield and troubled the Carmarthen defence with their through balls to Lucy and Kate. Annie, Michelle, Jean and Mims held firm in defence to keep the score at 0-0 at the halfway mark.

In the second half, further changes were made to the Tenby line-up, with Ali coming on as right wing, Mims swapping to the left and Sarah C back on the field up front with striker Annie R.

Mandy came close to scoring, with the ball just going wide, and this impetus led to Mims finding Barney, who drove the ball up the right wing. She passed to Mims, who crossed it to Annie R, whose shot found the back of the goal.

Carmarthen took the game straight back to Tenby from the restart, resulting in Delyth scoring an excellent goal from the circle, which the Tenby defence was powerless to stop.

From then on the game swung end to end, until seven minutes from the end, Tenby were awarded a penalty corner that Ali converted from an unbelievable angle.

Tenby soaked up the remaining pressure to win 2-1 and jubilantly win the Pembrokeshire Ladies Hockey League, making club history (and with a game in hand next week against Fishguard!).

Thanks go to coach Dave Miller for his committed approach and support throughout the season, the squad of players and to everyone who has helped Tenby become champions at last!

Squad: Annie Lindsell, Michelle Johns, Jean Campbell, Sarah Cooper, 'Barney' Squire, Julie Jones, Mandy Lewis, Mims Brown, Pauline Roberts, Lucy Higgon, Kate Morris, Annie Rossiter, Sarah Silcox, Ali MacDermott.