Win flurry takes Trojans ladies to third

Amy Sheehan opened the scoring for Trojans.

Trojans are in sight of a creditable third place finish in England Hockey’s Women’s Western Conference after a 2-1 win over Exe – their fifth victory in six starts anda fourth in a row.
If win at Oxford Hawks on Saturday, they ought to finish third behind Stourport and Gloucester City.
The wet and cold weather conditions at Stoneham Lane made things difficult, but Trojans got off to a good start, moving the ball round the pitch well with Heather Batten creating problems in the middle of the pitch and Daisy Strange bossing it down the right-hand side throwing some telling aerial passes up the pitch to the forward line.
Trojans broke the deadlock after 14 minutes Amy Sheehan. Batten beat two defenders, drove to the line and pulled the ball back to Sheehan, who calmly rounded the keeper and pushed the ball into the back of the net for her ninth goal of the season.
Trojans joy was short lived.   Barely a minute later, Exe equalised from a Kelly Luscombe short corner, but Trojans held firm as the Devon visitors pushed forward failing to gain any circle entries.
Ten minutes before half-time Trojans scored a second goal, which proved to be a winner.
They were awarded a short corner which was converted after Zoe Gittens drag flicked the ball and Batten was able to get on the end of it after an Exe player had made a partial block. 
Trojans called the tune for the bulk of the second half, with Jill Tombs going close, but not adding to their goal tally created an anxious finish as Exe pressed, without success.