TAMWORTH High are still in the race for a State Hockey Knockout title after a dramatic extra-time win over Wingham High in Tamworth yesterday.
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Brittany King’s second goal came in under a minute and a half of extra time after Wingham locked the scores up at 2-2 with four minutes on the clock.
THS were on top for most of the match but kept letting the visitors back in the game with a few lapses of concentration.
King put an early goal in to open the scoring as THS led for most of the first half.
Some bad decisions at the back saw a loose ball swooped on by Wingham to even the score just before the break.
THS came out after the break and instantly took the lead back.
Super sub Georgia White came off the bench and into the forwards with immediate effect, finding the back of the goal.
THS continued to apply plenty of pressure for the remainder of the half, but couldn’t get the final touches on the ball.
With five minutes to go, another loose pass found an opposition stick.
A good run and some handy stick work saw the visitors beat the defence and the goalie to even the match up.
Six minutes of extra time was put on the clock.
THS again put the pressure on, resulting in a short corner.
King stopped the ball, dummied, went around the first defender and opened the shoulders to smash the ball into the goal for the win.
Coach Greg Allen was very pleased to get the win but wary of the lapses that kept allowing Wingham back in the game.
“It was a seesawing game,” Allen said.
“We had their measure early but let them back in.
“That got their confidence up and they got better.”
The two-goal hero, King, was actually playing at centre back.
Usually a striker and forward, King has a hamstring strain from a skiing accident and was put at centre back to avoid too much running.
Fellow back and captain Samantha Moxon also played a big hand in keeping Wingham out, while Meg Whitten and Georgia White also stood out.
“When we controlled the ball, we caused problems,” Allen said.
“They defended very well and were strong on the ball.
“A few errant passes let both sides down at times.”
The win puts the girls into the final eight in the state after they also beat Westfield Sports 4-2 last week.
The THS boys’ side will be hoping to join the girls in the finals when they take on Black Wattle Bay High in Sydney next week.