THE Strikers put themselves back on the winner’s list with an emphatic 5-1 win over United in Capital League hockey on Saturday.
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The Hockey Albury Wodonga women burst out of the blocks to lead 2-0 at the break.
Kate Mason, who celebrated her 18th birthday during the week, was one of the standouts for the Strikers, along with Rhianna Coleiro and Masters World Cup-winning striker Nan Latta.
Coach Tony Jones said it was an outstanding performance on a bitterly cold day.
“At the end of the game the girls couldn’t feel their fingers on the hockey sticks,” he said.
“But it has been a tough couple of months so to get on the winning list is still a great feeling.
“Kate Mason never stopped all day and celebrated all the way home.”
Jones said the Strikers had dominated for much of the match.
“We led 2-0 but it could have been much more had we taken our chances,” he said.
“We were all over them but it just wasn’t dropping for us.
“It was a little disappointing to let them get a goal in the second half but we were able to add three as well.”
Meanwhile, the Spitfires paid the penalty for a sluggish start in an 8-2 thrashing at the hands of United, again in Canberra.
The home team banged in three goals inside the first 10 minutes to effectively seal the game.
“For 75 per cent of the game we were competitive but it was that first 10 minutes and a few minor lapses during the game that cost us dearly — at this level you can’t drop off for one minute,” coach Matt Smart said.
“I don’t know whether it was the second road trip in a week or the fact some of our young players had played seven games during the week in the Victorian State carnival, but we were just flat.
“But they have some quality players, including one who is in their national hockey league team (Canberra Lakers) — he beat three defenders and then hit a one-handed shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.”
The Spitfires are at home to Goulburn in a double header this week.
Goulburn’s team may include World Cup-winning Kookaburra striker Glenn Turner.