First win remains elusive for Pendle Forest

Both teams started off on an even keel, and the game ebbed and flowed with penalty corners at each end.

Forest seemed to take hold of the game, but against the run of play, Wakefield scored from a penalty corner with a shot into the bottom corner.

Forest regained composure and put some good passing moves together.

Charlotte “Bickers” O’Brien played well on her return to the first team and had a one on one chance to score, but the Wakefield goalkeeper made a good save.

In the second half Forest changed formation, and it almost worked when Karen Wignall hit the post.

But Wakefield converted a penalty corner, managing to get a deflection past the defender on the right post to make it 2-0.

The first team play away at Deeside Ramblers tomorrow.

The second team were on the wrong end of a 6-1 beating by Rossall, with Judith Hind scoring and Olivia Purtill the player of the match.

The third team had their first match in two weeks against Southport seconds.

Straight from the whistle Forest dominated, with player of the match, Mags Robinson commanding the midfield.

Great runs down the right from Abbie Hunter and Mawgan Naylor saw balls crossed into the D and picked up by Denise Tuck and Claire Birkett, but after half a dozen attempts each on goal, they were unable to score.

Southport penetrated the Forest goal just a handful of times, but were unable to get past sweeper Judy Bentham.

Despite goal attempts from Birkett, Tuck, Robinson and Dee McInnes, the game remained 0-0 at half-time.

At the start of the second half Southport changed their formation and they raised their game, but Forest matched them.

Once again great work from Robinson, Hunter and Olivia Bythell saw the ball fired into the D for Tuck to latch onto.

This time Tuck made no mistake and fired home from close range.

Sadly the lead was short lived when Southport were awarded a penalty corner.

Although their first strike at goal was stopped, the deflection fell nicely to the Southport attack, and they slotted home to the far right corner, just out of reach of Debs Lancaster in goal.

Forest continued to push forward, and an inspired substitution by manager Ian Bythell, saw Olivia Bythell and Hunter link well and pass to Birkett, who shot at goal.

The ball bobbled agonisingly, inches from the goal line, and Tuck prodded the ball over the line for her second goal.