Burnham 5, Taunton Vale V 2

BURNHAM took the honours in Saturday’s top of the table clash with Taunton Vale.

In a scrappy first half Burnham took a while to get going and despite the score line could never quite shake Taunton off completely.

Sarah Johnson deputising for the captain made some shrewd early changes in defence that tightened things up and managed numerous substitutions well throughout the match.

Emma Ballard and Jenna Bushell were solid and worked well together to keep the visitors at bay.

The Blues took the lead through Caroline Hunt with an exocet of a strike from a penalty corner.

This was doubled shortly afterwards by Carly Bush, when a rapier like pass from Louise Peace found June England and her clever little reverse dink in the D was slapped through the GK legs by Bush.

Vale pulled one back with their own fierce penalty corner strike just before half time.

Burnham were better in the second half and linked well down both flanks.

Lauren Cook and Ellie Bishop showed good poise and great touch whilst Chelsea Fisher and Imogen Wright were strong in the tackle and worked tirelessly in the middle.

Moved up into a more advanced position for the second-half Bush repaid Johnson's faith in her in full. A stunning run to the byline and perfect cut back found Hunt whose shot trickled over the line for her second and Burnhams third.

Time and time again Bush took on her defender, beating her or at least winning a free hit or a penalty corner for her team, throwing the visitors defence into meltdown.

It was from one of these Hunt eventually got her hat-trick – when the GK saved her first strike and then another one from Tracey Dunn, Hunt pounced on the rebound.

A breakaway goal from Vale gave them slight hope of a comeback but this was quickly extinguished as Burnham scored another textbook goal this time in front of their impressed coach.

Another penalty corner won by Bush was struck sweetly by Hunt and swept in perfectly by Johnson on the post to give the blues a convincing win in the end.

POM: Carly Bush Next match Sat 18/10/14 v Taunton CS away at 10am.

Training at KA from 7-8pm each Monday.