Bourne Hat-Trick Helps L1 to 6-0 Win Over East Grinstead
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Ladies' Darcy Bourne helped herself to a hat-trick on her return from Argentina as East Grinstead suffered their worst ever National League defeat, 6-0 at Sugden Road on Saturday afternoon.
Bourne scored an open play goal, converted a penalty corner and completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot as Surbiton Ladies were rampant against an East Grinstead side, who probably had one of their worst performances at national league level, in a key top of the table clash.
East Grinstead's previous worst defeat in the Premier Division was on 21 September 2019 when Loughborough Students won 5-1 at Saint Hill.
And having risen from Sussex League level to the top flight, the last time they conceded at least six goals in a league fixture was back in February 2007, when they lost 10-0 at Chichester in the Sussex League Premier Division.
Sophie Hamilton scored a brace, also having returned from Argentina and the icing on the cake came with a superb team passing goal finished off by Taz Cookman in the last minute to celebrate a truly amazing performance.
However there was no early indication of the rout which was to take place on a sunny afternoon in Elmbridge when East Grinstead forced a penalty corner in the first minute. As in previous games, Surbiton had relinquished possession in the early minutes, but the West Sussex club could not make an early breakthrough.
In the first quarter, Hamilton came close to scoring after rounding East Grinstead goalkeeper, Laura Myers, a minute after setting up a scoring chance for Maddie Long which went past the left post.
Alice Sharp also fired past the left post and Bourne forced a fine save from Myers towards the end of the first quarter, but Surbiton were left waiting for their first goal.
Autumn Bowden had a shot for the visitors in the 22nd minute but three minutes later the breakthrough finally came, Hamilton's shot from Surbiton's second penalty corner ending up in the top left corner.
East Grinstead had a chance to level a minute before the break, but after the routine was completed and the umpires consulted, a bully was resolved and Surbiton held their slender lead going into the second half.
Surbiton's stunned East Grinstead with two quick goals early in the second half, Bourne carrying the ball into the circle before breaking the visitors' defensive shackles and beating Myers following a turnover in the 39th minute.
A minute later, it was Hamilton's turn to grab her second goal of the match as East Grinstead suddenly found themselves trailing 3-0.
Worse was to come in the 52nd minute as Bourne, having been denied from Surbiton's third penalty corner, made no mistake from her side's fourth, finding the backboard to leave East Grinstead trailing 4-0 going into the final quarter.
Surbiton's sixth penalty corner resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded in the 66th minute, Bourne scoring with ease to put Surbiton 5-0 up.
But the best goal of the day came in the final minute when the East Grinstead defence was completely befuddled by a slick passing move, which could not have been performed better, Cookman left with the relatively simple task of slotting home thanks to her teammates' speed and dexterity.
Surbiton's lead was extended to three points after Hampstead & Westminster moved into second place thanks to their 4-2 win at Beeston.
Wimbledon stayed fourth, in spite of winning 2-1 at Clifton Robinsons for the second time this season.
In the Bottom 5, Loughborough Students closed to within one point of the University of Birmingham after a 1-0 win at Swansea.
And Buckingham narrowed the gap between themselves and Holcombe to three points with a 2-0 win in Kent.