HOCKEY: Bromsgrove ladies rounded off their pre-season with a resounding 4-1 win over Stourport.

Stourport put Bromsgrove under enormous pressure from the start with resolute defending by new goalie Rhian Evans keeping them out.

However, Bromsgrove eventually buckled under pressure and Stourport went ahead from a penalty corner.

Somewhat against the run of play, Town broke away when Erica Reeves won the ball and fed Vicky Powell.

Powell cut in along the backline and fired a fierce shot into the roof of the goal for an equaliser.

This spurred Town into life and more good work from Powell set up Alice Taylor to score a second.

Shortly before the break, Charlie Cole converted a sharp chance from a well-worked penalty corner move.

After the break more Stourport pressure demanded strong defending from Bromsgrove and Ange Gibson, together with Lisa Smiley and Jus Postones were outstanding.

Bromsgrove weathered the storm and increased their lead when Tricky Burton scored a well-deserved goal with a fantastic lift over the advancing goalkeeper.

Coach Alan Gormley said: “It was a good game and to be honest Stourport can feel a bit hard done by.

“I think we deserved the victory as we finished clinically and defended well.

“But they really pushed us hard. It was ideal preparation for next week’s first league game against Bournville.”