Chelmsford got off to a good start in this year's Indoor League by winning their opening two matches on day one, at The Edge Sports Centre in Haslemere.

They began with a comfortable 8-1 win over newly promoted Liverpool Quilters. Chelmsford had to be patient, however, as the northern side acquitted themselves well at the start and the deadlock was not broken until the 13th minute.

A hat-trick from Chloe Rogers, two apiece from captain Lisa Wooding and Lynn Bollington and one from Tracy Comber completed the rout.

The second game saw them lock horns with local rivals, Ipswich. In an exciting match which swung one way then the other, Chelmsford ran out 10-6 winners.

Lisa Wooding did most of the damage with five goals.

Bollington began the scoring in the first minute from a Tacey Willmore pass. Comber, Cath Tyler, Rogers and Maria Merrigan all contributed with a goal each. Youngster, Shelly Haslam, made some terrific saves, none more important than a Liesa King penalty stroke with the score at 8-6.

The drama continued on Sunday. Another fast and furious encounter in another local derby saw Chelmsford battle it out with Canterbury in a 6-6 draw. Wooding was again vital to Chelmsford's cause, claiming a hat-trick.

Bollington, Comber and Tyler were also on target. In a dramatic finale Wooding was unlucky to see her penalty stroke come back off the post in what was the last action of the game.

Chelmsford finished off the weekend as they had started it, with a resounding 8-2 victory, over Leicester.

Wooding, Rogers, Willmore and Bollington all contributed to the scoring.

This result left Chelmsford top of the league after the first half of matches.

It puts them in a strong position to finish in the top four which will ensure them a place in the play-off Finals at Crystal Palace at the end of February.

Published Wednesday, January 15, 2003

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