Orsmond's return inspires victory

Newark Hockey Club's ladies 2nds put in a great team performance to clinch an important 2-1 win at North Notts, who are just above them in the Nottinghamshire Premier League.

Last season’s top goal-scorer Shanade Orsmond slotted back into her old role with ease following time off after giving birth and seemed to inject confidence back into the team, who hadn’t won in two months.

Goalkeeper Alex Wadeson also marked her return to full fitness by making some stunning saves and her decisive kicks to clear shots on goal often created attacking chances.

The breakthrough came on 15 minutes when great interplay gave space to Susan Tate whose powerful strike deflected off a North Notts defender into the goal.

Within ten minutes the home side had levelled through a sublime reverse stick-flick into the top of the goal from an acute angle.

Newark scored a brilliant winning goal when good movement and passing from Susan Tate, Amy Baugh and Orsmond found Ann Crockett-McLean, who slipped the ball past the keeper to Tash Gresswell to slot into the open goal.

A late goal condemned Newark Ladies 3rds to their third defeat in four games as they lost 2-1 at Trent Vale.

A short corner just before half-time put Trent Vale in front.

Newark pressed their opponents back in the second-half in search of an equaliser and were rewarded when Sue Birkett directed a cross from Vicky McMunn into the goal.

The visitors had several attempts cleared off the line before Trent Vale scored from a short corner, the final play of the game.