Double despair as Magpies teams slip to defeat
Horsham 2, Harleston Magpies Ladies 0: Magpies produced a below par performance in their defeat at struggling Horsham in the Women's Conference East on Saturday.
From the start of the game Magpies were unable to retain possession and found it difficult to reproduce the tempo and quality they had shown during their recent run of home games.
Magpies' best opportunity of the half came when Hannah Palmer attacked the Horsham defence at speed, beating the last defender and the goalkeeper but unfortunately for Magpies the ball narrowly missed the far post.
In the 23rd minute a poor tackle in the Magpies' defending circle provided Horsham with a penalty corner which Zeph Hardy converted to put the home side ahead. Magpies did not have an immediate response to this and a minute before half-time Horsham extended their lead when Stephanie Dent finished from close range.
Magpies started the second half determined to get back on level terms and increased the pressure on the Horsham defence, frequently winning possession in attacking areas of the pitch. But the visitors were unable to convert any of the chances they created and slipped to their third defeat of the season.
They must improve their performance this weekend when they travel to last year's East Conference champions Sevenoaks.
• Harleston Magpies Men 2 Wimbledon 3
Most Read
- 1 Major incident in city after reports of stabbing
- 2 Range Rover hit by train after straying onto level crossing
- 3 Film crews for Paramount crime series to visit ANOTHER Norfolk village
- 4 Woman stabbed in neck and arm in city park
- 5 Woman in 50s arrested after house sealed off in quiet street
- 6 Six fire crews battle large field blaze in south Norfolk
- 7 46-cabin holiday park proposed for Norfolk countryside
- 8 Here's when parents can get complimentary tickets to BeWILDerwood
- 9 Artist dies just weeks after Covid cancellation of psychiatrist appointment
- 10 Boatyard in 'prime position' in Norfolk Broads goes up for auction
A brace from leading scorer Ben Wright was not enough to save Magpies from defeat at home to Wimbledon on Sunday.
Wright gave the hosts a seventh minute lead following a penalty corner, but Wimbledon drew level on 22 minutes when James Osborn scored from open play.
Ben Dando put Wimbledon ahead from a penalty corner on 35 minutes and Ben Hawes netted from another penalty corner to make it 3-1 soon afterwards.
Wright then notched his ninth of the season to give Magpies a lifeline on 42 minutes, but they were unable to force an equaliser.
