Hockey: Hat-trick Pins down the game

Oct 18 2007 by Our Correspondent, Merthyr Express

Dowlais Ladies 3 Howardian Ladies 3

A HAT-TRICK by Lisa Pinney rescued a draw for Dowlais to keep her side’s unbeaten run in the league.

Dowlais were outplayed in the first half so it was no surprise when they went 1-0 down 15 minutes into the game.

They equalised, though, when a slide-rule pass from captain Janine Thomas found Mary Owen, who cleverly slipped the ball for Pinney to level from close range.

Howards stormed back and, despite some fine saves by keeper Sarah Hanney, Dowlais went in at half-time 2-1 down.

The second half began in the same pattern and it looked as if Dowlais were down and out when they conceded another to go 3-1 down – but the girls had other ideas.

Spurred on by ‘man-of-the-match’ Trudy Dinham, who by now had recovered from a knock to the head, Dowlais showed their never-say-die attitude.

With only 10 minutes remaining, Caryn Parker crossed for Pinney to grab her second and four minutes later Pinney scored her third to secure a well earned point.