New-look Pelicans can't force win over high flyers

Pelicans Ladies 1sts 1 Cambridge Nomads Ladies 1sts 2

Much-changed Pelicans welcomed Nomads to Lynnsport knowing that a win against the third placed outfit would catapult them up the league.

Pelicans were without their young and pacy forward line trio of Poppy Beales, Mia Moore and Amber Scott, but welcomed back former Pelican, junior England international and National League player Ella Picton for a one-off game before she heads off to France for the ski season.

Pelicans were 1-0 down after less than a minute having given away a soft goal against a good team that were quick to take advantage.

Pelicans began to take the attack to a well-organised Nomads team and created a number of scoring opportunities for Grace Carrier,who was routinely well-positioned on the far post, but the ball was just wide or bobbling away. Ella Picton’s quality was evident in an unfamiliar forward position (despite not playing for almost a year) and the understanding with former long-standing team mate, Suzi Lemon, was growing.

Much of Pelicans’ play was building down the left from Emily Pluck (who had another good game), to Annabelle Brown to Carrier with a fine contribution from Lucy Lim. Lemon was also creating opportunities on the right with Laura Tea and Ellie Burt pulling the strings in the centre. A driving run from Lemon needed a well-timed tackle just into the Nomads D to deny her. Peli’s won a further short corner which Nomads comfortably defended.

Great work from Picton culminated in a sublime reverse flick pass to Emily Pluck whose foray into the Nomads D won yet another short corner. Again, Nomads defended but conceded a further penalty which again was saved. From open play, Lemon fired a fine reverse stick strike goalward only for the airborne shot to deflect off a teammate to safety.

Midway through the second half, Nomads broke for a well-taken goal against the run of play. Pelicans won further penalty corners and Tea, Picton and Lemon all went close from open play.

Defending well were Nic Lanfker, Hannah Bowman – with a superb tackle to deny Nomads despite a two-on-one overload – and Atlanta Stevenson, whose fine saves kept Pelicans in the match.

Finally, Lemon picked up the ball, drove into the D and fizzed a shot at the keeper which was bundled over the line on the rebound by Carrier. Despite a number of further chances the equaliser wouldn’t come.

Not the best performance against quality opposition but a creditable effort given the recent enforced change of positions and players.

Team – Atlanta Stevenson (GK), Laura Tea (C), Ellie Burt, Suzi Lemon, Grace Carrier, Holly Nash, Ella Picton, Nic Lankfer, Hannah Bowman, Annabelle Brown, Lucy Lim, Emily Pluck. Players’ PoM – Suzi Lemon.