HOCKEY: Parkview remain in title hunt despite draw

Parkview Ladies' Senior 4 title aspirations received a set-back when they only managed a 2-2 draw with Cooke in Belfast.

Twice the city strugglerhostss were in front, but strikes by Emma Bothwell and Toni Smallwood ensured Parkview stayed in the slipstream of leaders Instonians.

Despite the unexpected loss of two points, Tammy Gamble’s girls still have their destiny in their own hands: win the remaining two fixtures and the title is secured with 26 points, while the best Instonians can muster is 25.

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In Saturday’s top-against-bottom clash it was the underdogs who were first on the scorecard, but Bothwell ensured the teams turned round all square, when she applied the finishing touch to a Gamble cross.

Parkview played at a higher tempo in the second session but the hosts regained the lead from a penalty corner.

For them that was as good as it got, with the last half hour played mainly in Cooke territory.

Kerry Erskine, Zoe Montgomery, Nikki Singleton and Jenna Maxwell-Oliphant all had shots saved before Smallwood secured the draw from a penalty corner routine involving Singleton and Lauren Glass.

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During the closing minutes there were a few scrambles in the home circle, and Gamble almost snatched the winner when her shot rebounded off the post.

Parkview’s Kathy Morrison said: “We were rubbish in the first half, but there was a marked improvement after the interval and only some brilliant saves by their goalkeeper and a few goal-line clearances prevented us from picking up the three points.”

Parkview Ladies panel: M Graham, E McConnell, L Glass, P Purdy, N Singleton, K Erskine, E Bothwell, T Gamble (C), J Maxwell-Oliphant, T Smallwood, C McGookin, Z Montgomery, J Rankin, J Wallace.

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