Hat trick for Lara

North Somerset Ladies played their second match of the weekend on Sunday v Mendip 2nds, and ran out winners 6-0 to maintain their challenge to Somerset Gryphons at the top of Brunel Division 1.
On another lovely day for hockey, North were quickly into their stride and were dominating play and possession against Mendip. There was one early counter attack from Mendip which nearly caught North by surprise but the majority of the play was in the Mendip half and D.
The Mendip keeper had an outstanding game, making a string of great saves from shots that would normally have resulted in a goal. She was backed up with resolute defence with a couple of short corners saved on the line when the keeper had finally been beaten.
Finally Lara Ford-Urch broke the deadlock with a superb low strike after twisting and turning in the D. A second followed from a short corner when Liz Dane followed up and forced the ball home from short range after an initial save, to make the score 2-0 at half time.
The second half saw continued North pressure, good passing play, with many strong shots on goal being saved by the Mendip keeper. However, the pressure was ultimately irresistible, and Lara Ford-Urch completed her own hat trick with two goals from closer range, one following up from a shot and save – the other a simple deflection shot after an excellent cross into the Mendip D. Liz Dane bagged her second goal in similar fashion to the first, following up on the keeper after making the initial pass out, and came close to completing a hat trick from left back position on a couple of other occasions. Michelle Harrold scored the other goal, from a good turn and shoot in the D.