Hockey: Exe win to keep pressure on league leaders Bristol University

West Premier 1 Firebrands A 0 Exe 2 Exe kept up the pressure on league leaders Bristol University in the West Premier Division One thanks to a 2-0 win away Firebrands. Having lost last time out, to Bristol, Exe were determined to get back on track. They made the breakthrough when Helen Tully dribbled her way through the opposition defence to score. A deflected shot from Sarah Payne made it 2-0 in the second half. Plymouth Marjon 2 Isca A 0 Isca seconds missed the chance to move up to fourth in the table as they were beaten 2-0 at Plymouth Marjon. Isca were slow to start and Plymouth capitalised on this by winning a series of short corners. This led to a well-placed strike putting them 1-0 up. Isca came out strongly in the second half, but just found themselves lacking in the final third. Plymouth added a second following a goalmouth scramble. West Premier 2b Isca B 1 Newquay 2 A sweetly struck shot from Georgina Taylor was not enough to save Isca thirds from defeat at home to Newquay. In a tough and physical encounter Newquay took the lead before Taylor equalised midway through the first half. However, Newquay edged themselves in front again after the break and held on for the win. South Division Exe A 1 Kingsbridge & Salcombe 2 A late goal from Kingsbridge & Salcombe sent Exe crashing to their first defeat of 2015. Having beaten high-flying Exeter University last time out, Exe had ambitions of recording back-to-back victories, but a swift break from the visitors put them in front. Exe equalised when player-of-the-match Karen Tinley hit a shot from a penalty-corner that found its way into the net. However, Kingsbridge scored with only their third shot on goal to win the game despite a good performance from Exe. Petroc 1 Isca D 1 Exe B 2 Bottom-of-the-table Isca fifths put in a battling display before losing to Exe thirds. They led at the break thanks to a great individual goal from Imogen Ineson, but Exe came out in the second half determined. They forced Isca keeper Mollie Tettenborn into some good saves and scored two goals to turn the match around. Isca C 1 Dartmouth 0 Isca closed the gap on second-placed Dartmouth to four points with a hard-fought victory. Clare Moylan scored an early goal to put Isca in front. The hosts then withstood a lot of Dartmouth pressure to claim the victory. Saskia Carter was the player-of-the-match.