LANCASTER & Morecambe College women's hockey team have secured a place in the national knockout finals following a thrilling victory in the North West regional tournament.

Ten qualifying teams took part in the tournament at Witton Park, and it was plain that teams would have to be on top of their game.

Lancaster started with a draw but, as the tournament progressed, the team started to grow in confidence and their fluent hockey started to create gaps in opposing defences.

In the semi-finals the team was Lancaster drawn against a strong Cardinal Newman team and won on penalty flicks after the game was drawn 0-0.

Lancaster scored their first three with Cardinal Newman managing just one, and when Jannique Lawson made a heart-stopping penalty save the locals were through to the final against Aquinas.

This was another tight affair with both teams defending hard, but it was Lancaster who broke the deadlock when a Holly Stringfellow free hit was guided into the goal by Lauren Wright to secure a place in the finals at Loughborough University.