Captain fantastic Nunnerley hopes Bromsgrove can push on after 100 per cent season - The Bromsgrove Standard

Captain fantastic Nunnerley hopes Bromsgrove can push on after 100 per cent season

Bromsgrove Editorial 22nd Mar, 2016 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

BROMSGROVE Ladies Firsts captain Heather Nunnerley is hopeful next season brings even more success for the club following their 100 per cent season in the Worcestershire Hockey League.

From start to finish, Bromsgrove have not dropped a single point, winning all 16 of their league games to romp to the Division One title and securing promotion to the Midland Region Feeder West.

Bromsgrove secured the title with two games remaining, but for club captain Heather Nunnerley, she said the team put themselves under some stress to win their last two matches.

“From early February we actually started to think we could win all of our games but we had a really tough second half to the season,” she said.




“It was a bit of shock really when we knew we had done it, especially as we put ourselves under a lot of pressure to win our final games.

“The team have been absolutely fantastic all season, we’ve had injuries, blood and A&E called to games but there is always someone to come in and play a position they don’t normally play in.


“The squad has had some new signings brought in to give us those extra options but a critical thing we changed was formation.

“Our coach Alan Gormley tried it before but it didn’t work but this time around it has so I ran up to him and thanked him for the advice.

“He’s been let down a few times in training on Wednesday’s but he’s always flexible and has just kept us going at all times.”

Bromsgrove will now play their trade in the Feeder West next season with four teams going down, but Nunnerley is positive she and the rest of the squad has what it takes to do well.

“This squad is the strongest we have ever had in all the time I have been here,” she added.

“Quite often teams that go up to the Feeder leagues come straight back down as it’s a really tough league.

“It’s only the second time we have ever been in that league I know how challenging it can be.

“However, I am really hopeful that we can stay up next season and maybe even secure another promotion, but first we are celebrating our 100 per cent season.”

BROMSGROVE Firsts ensured they ended the season with a 100 per cent record after running out comfortable 5-0 winners against Stourport Thirds.

Two goals from Tricky Burton and one each for Laura Underhill, Lily Alsop and Stacey Nash made it 16 wins out of 16 in Division One of the Worcestershire Hockey League.

Bromsgrove started the game brightly and went ahead with a brilliant team move when full-back Katy Masters drove forward to supply Nash.

Nash took the ball on a few strides before offloading to Jo Eddy whose inch perfect pass found Underhill with just the keeper to beat and kept her cool to slot home.

A few minutes later Burton bundled the ball over the line to double Bromsgrove’s advantage.

In the 21st minute, Alsop added the third from a penalty corner before the Ladies had to withstand some Stourport pressure to send the scores into the break at 3-0.

Four minutes into the second half and Bromsgrove added a fourth.

Underhill once again fed Alsop who bared down on goal before passing to Nash to tuck home.

Bromsgrove continued to dominate but failed to add to their tally until five minutes from the end when Burton grabbed her second of the game with a lovely cross flick to complete the scoring.

Coach Alan Gormley said: “This was a momentous day in our club’s history. For the first team to win every single game in the season is quite remarkable.

“I’ve never worked with such a dedicated group of girls who play with a fierce intensity for each other.

“It is a truly special place to be. I can’t praise them highly enough.”

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