Double despair as Magpies teams slip to defeat

Tuesday, November 8, 2011
5:09 PM

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

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.