DESPITE three late call-offs, Beccles Ladies still came away with all three points against hosts Lowestoft Railway with a 3-0 win.This was due to their determination and tremendous teamwork in this Division One Martin & Acock Hockey League game.

DESPITE three late call-offs, Beccles Ladies still came away with all three points against hosts Lowestoft Railway with a 3-0 win.

This was due to their determination and tremendous teamwork in this Division One Martin & Acock Hockey League game.

A shuffle of positions and with one player down meant that the defence had to cope with one player less, and they did this admirably.

Manager Christine Muttitt had to step in yet again, sticking to her task well at right midfield, harassing the opposition at every opportunity.

Beccles went ahead after seven minutes when Debbie Mann received the ball in the D and with a slightly raised shot sent the ball through the opposition into the goal. Beccles continued to have the majority of the play in the first half and Annette Freeman, despite being tightly marked throughout the game, created several scoring opportunities, which were often thwarted at the last hurdle.

Her efforts were eventually rewarded eight minutes before half-time. The move started when Debbie Mann, deep in her own half, won the ball and sent it to Carol Maycock, who drove an exquisite ball through to Annette, who sprinted into the D to score a cracking goal and give Beccles a 2-0 lead.

Railway came out stronger in the second half and had much more possession, pressurising the Beccles defence.

However, undeterred, they all stuck to the task well with Max Gibbs and Laura Cook nipping in and clearing any loose balls in the D, stamping their superiority on the game. Heather Brand consistently won the ball before it ever reached the D and put in another great performance.

Ali Foreman and Carol Maycock again worked tirelessly in midfield, constantly being involved in the game as they admirably supported both forwards and defence.

It was just reward when Carol Maycock received the ball just outside the D, ran in and powered the ball through the opposition, the ball deflecting off a defender's stick as it went in for Beccles' third goal.

Despite the best efforts of both teams, no further goals were scored and Beccles took all three points putting them back in second place.

This week Beccles are at home to Thetford, with a 12.15 start.