Ashmoor ladies stated their intentions for the season with a resounding 10-0 win over Isca Dragons IV in their first league match.
A mixture of excitement, nerves and anticipation surged through the team as they awaited the start of the match, but all that was to disappear when captain Nikki Hutchings led from the front and hit a hat-trick in the first ten minutes.
The team produced a display of passing hockey, which resulted in goals for youngsters Meg Pearson and Laura Glover, making it 5-0 at the interval.
Straight from the restart Ashmoor added a sixth through Sue Hutchings, who finished off a great move by rounding the keeper.
Lorel Wallis and Rachel Simmons continued to make decisive runs down the right flank into the D, which resulted in further goals for Sue and Nikki Hutchings and an impressive sweeping undercut for Pearson.
At the back, the defence rarely looked troubled, with Nicky Bruce and Lucy Dixon clearing everything up before it reached GK Hayley Naisbett-Jones, with Grace Bruce and TP Turner adding support on the flanks.
The final goal came in the dying minutes. Karen Dinnie – who became the fourth member of the Dinnie family to play for Ashmoor – worked tirelessly in the middle to win a short corner. The first shot was saved by the young Isca keeper, but Rosie Wallis was the first to react to slot the rebound home.
The ladies have their first home game tomorrow, against Ottery Crickets.