Pembroke ladies hockey team needed a win in Division One this week after a tough match in Cardiff the previous weekend.

Suffering from a freak combination of weekends away, illness, clashes and work commitments, Pembroke struggled to field a team for the late afternoon match against Cardiff Athletic Seconds. Rather than concede the match and take a points deduction, Pembroke travelled with seven senior players and willing junior Megan Thomas, who made a brave senior debut, aged only 13, after a couple of weeks with the club.

Despite the circumstances, Pembroke faced up to a full team from Cardiff with three rolling subs and hit the ground running with a fierce attack from the push back and Alys Silcox and Jess Lawrence having good efforts on goal within the first five minutes.

Cardiff struggled to deal with a ferocious effort from a very brave Pembroke team and only broke through a couple of times where they met with typically solid saves from Jo Thomas, who showed her class in goal.

Eventually Cardiff managed to break through, working round the defence and leaving the scoreline impressively at 1-0 at half-time.

Cardiff came out in the second half fighting hard and using their subs to their advantage and increased the pressure on the away team. In the end, the numbers worked in Cardiff's favour and, despite a resilient effort from Pembroke, they managed to score four more goals, leaving the end scoreline at 5-0.

Cardiff awarded Megan Thomas player of the match.

This week, back to full strength, a squad of 13 Pembroke players faced Penarth Thirds at home.

Penarth started the game strongly, dominating the beginning of the match and putting Pembroke's defence under pressure.

Going into the second half 0-0, Pembroke upped their game and started to increase the pressure, with several strong efforts on goal, including stunning Penarth saves on short corner shots from Sarah Lunn and Kirsty Smith.

Following a long stint in the Penarth D, Tasha Lawrence received the ball on the left post and managed to sneak it past the 'keeper to put Pembroke in the lead.

Unfortunately, Penarth responded with a quick attack and caught Pembroke out, replying with their own goal to level the match at 1-1.

Far from letting it put them off, Pembroke fought back strongly, returning the pressure, and Alys Silcox scored the winner with a sensational reverse stick sweep from the edge of the D.

Player of the match went to Sarah Lunn.

This weekend, Pembroke play Whitchurch Saints Thirds in Cardiff before a busy weekend on November 2/3 with a 1st XI league game against Whitchurch Valleys and a Welsh Cup round two match against Bridgend, while the junior team take on Carmarthen in the Development League and Haverfordwest in the Badgers League.