Ladies serve up six-goal thriller

Pelicans Ladies and Cambridge City served up a six-goal thriller at Alive Lynnsport to maintain their strong start to the new season.A late penalty flick from Kiona Sequiria salvaged a draw to lift the ladies to third in the league standings.Stepping in as captain this week, Bianca Hilario took the team on a great warm-up before heading onto the pitch, in the rain.Even though the Pelicans were missing some familiar faces on the pitch, coach Wayne Masters had every faith that the team could produce the goods on the pitch.The home side went straight on the front foot with Karise Sherry and Hilario linking up well with Brooke Harris to create chances for Gabriella Stilgoe and Kiona Sequiria.A sharp attack saw Cambridge City take the lead but Pelicans came back fighting to level as Hilario volleyed a rebounded ball into the back of the net.The quartet of Emma Hotchin, Harris, Savannah Sherry and Charlotte Skerry worked well together before a Cambridge interception saw them add a third goal. Pelicans’ sheer determination got them through the next 25 minutes. Great play between Jo Bland and Laura Culley-Tea eventually led to Harris crossing from the right for Hotchin to tap home.Pelicans fought tirelessly against a strong Cambridge defence but couldn’t find a way through, despite creating endless opportunities and enjoying 90 per cent possession.In the dying minutes of the game, Megan Antliff managed to get an upgrade to a short corner and the ball was pushed out by Hilario to the top of the D, where Sequira expertly smashed the ball towards the goal, only to be stopped by a Cambridge City foot.A penalty flick was awarded and Sequira showed nerves of steel to equalise from the resulting flick.POM Charlotte Skerry.

Hockey Greg Plummer