Isca worked their socks off in Plymouth in the last game of 2008 to give themselves an early Christmas present of three valuable points and lots of hope for the second half of the season.
Plym Valley had the higher number of shots in the first half but most of these were well off target. Isca had the best chances, and took the lead through a well taken run and shot from hard-working Anne Blissett. Valley’s greatest threat came from their penalty corners. Goalkeeper Caitlin Whytock made a crucial diving save to deny them a goal on one occasion and Kazz Hayes made a good intervention on another strike. However, just before half time, Valley managed to convert one of their penalty corners to make it 1-1.
Isca continued to pile pressure on Valley in the second half. The Valley players became increasingly frustrated with each other as Isca began to dominate the match. Isca deservedly regained the lead from a penalty corner, omnipresent Sue Norman finding the back of the net from a circle crowded with jostling players.
A few minutes from the end, Valley appeared to have scored a controversial equaliser, Isca players feeling the shot was outside the circle, Valley players feeling it was inside, and the umpires being unsure. Following a lengthy discussion between the captain and umpires, the initial decision was reversed and the goal was disallowed.
Valley then threw everything they had at Isca, but with the whole team on the defensive Isca managed to hold out to the final whistle for a 2-1 victory. Caitlin Whytock, who made a number of good saves, was Isca’s player of the match, but the fact that eight different players received votes is testament to how well everyone played.
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