Hockey: IoM U14 girls march on with victory at Garstang

U16 and Masters squads narrowly beaten in latest fixtures

The Isle of Man Under-14 Girls hockey squad has progressed again in the England Hockey Championships with a 1-0 victory at Garstang at the weekend.

As one of three Manx squads in action on Sunday (2 February), a 37th minute strike from Faith Teare was enough to send the Under-14 side to the next stage of the EH U14 Girls Tier 2 Plate.

Elsewhere, the IoM Under-16 girls suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat at Chester in the EH U16 Girls Tier 2 KO competition.

Meanwhile the Women's Over-45 Masters side were on the wrong side of close-fought loss at Formby by the same scoreline.

In what's being described as largely end-to-end contest in the EH U14 Girls Tier 2 Plate, the decisive moment came with 37 minutes on the clock as Teare smashed in a rebound after Faith Watterson had initially been denied at a penalty corner by smart stop from the Garstang goalkeeper.

In the EH U16 Girls Tier 2 KO competition in which Chester hosted the Isle of Man, all five goals came in the second half.

Sophie Partington put the Isle of Man in front on 45 minutes before Chester hit back almost instantly from a penalty corner at the other end to level at 1-1.

Another penalty corner put Chester in front in the 62nd minute but the Island squad replied within 60 seconds as Sienna Milward fired home to equalise.

As the game looked set to head past regulation time, Chester snatched a late winner with one minute remaining following a goalmouth scramble.

On Merseyside and after previous weather disruption the Isle of Man Women's Over-45 Masters squad traveled to Formby for their rearranged fixture in the EH Tier 1 Over-45's KO competition.

The Islanders took the lead through Donna Harrison's calm finish - rounding the goalkeeper and slotting into the net - before Formby got on level terms through a well-executed penalty corner routine.

Level at the break, Formby led for the first time in the second period courtesy of a well-finished penalty stroke before Harrison hauled the Isle of Man level with another smart strike.

With the match headed towards penalty flicks, Formby grabbed a late decider as an Isle of Man foot on the line from a penalty corner saw another penalty stroke awarded which the hosts duly dispatched.

The Isle of Man side will now move into the Tier 2 level of the championship.

**

Results (2-2-25)

EH U14 Girls Tier 2 Plate

Garstang 0-1 Isle of Man

EH U16 Girls Tier 2 KO 

Chester 3-2 Isle of Man

EH Over-45's Tier 1 KO

Formby 3-2 Isle of Man