Uphill task faces Trojans ladies

Trojans’ prospects of finishing top of the Investec Women’s Western Conference and featuring in the end-of-season play-offs are fading fast.
A 2-0 defeat by new leaders Stourport and a disappointing goal-less draw against Isca has bowled Trojans off pole position and in need of a slip up by the West Midlands club if they are to quality.
The goal-less stalemate with Isca is the only point Trojans have taken from the last three games.
Unless Stourport lose either of their remaining games against Isca and Team Bath (this coming weekend) or Olton & West Warwicks on March 24, Trojans look destined to finish second in a league they’ve led all season.
Trojans’ remaining two games are against Cannock and Team Bath.
They were rocked by two Stourport goals in quick succession midway through the first half – and never recovered.
Sarah Parkinson-Mills fired Stourport in front with a fierce reverse stick shot and minutes later Clare Pearson made it 2-0 after Trojans had been carved open down the flank.
Trojans seldom looked capable of pulling back the deficit and the best they could manage were efforts by Becky Treharne and Heather Batten.
The loss put huge emphasis on Trojans beating Isca on Sunday, but the Stoneham girls were unable to recapture their pre-season form and were held to a goal-less draw.
Trojans wasted a plethora of penalty corners, particularly in the second half, often due to poor injection and failed to use the width of the pitch to stretch their West Country visitors for much of the game.
Trojans were left hanging on at the end as Isca forced three unconverted short corners.