W1 Win 7-1 At Bowdon
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women clinched first place in Phase One of the Vitality Women's Hockey League Premier Division with a convincing 7-1 victory at Bowdon on Saturday afternoon.
Surbiton lead second-placed Reading by five points with just one game remaining in 2023, after Reading won 2-0 at Wimbledon.
Bowdon had only lost their first league match of the season the week before, 2-1 at Reading but after stunning Surbiton by taking the lead in the second minute, they found that Surbiton were too strong for them and clinical, although Bowdon goalkeeper, Anya Jackson made several important saves.
After the traditional Armistice Day two minutes silence was observed by both teams and the spectators, Bowdon attacked from the start with Lucy Tennant making an early attack down the left wing and the hosts were rewarded with a penalty corner award after just 68 seconds. Surbiton hadn't conceded a goal since Laura Roper scored for East Grinstead, but Alia Jaques ended the run at 239 minutes as Bowdon converted their only penalty corner of the match.
Surbiton responded in kind in the seventh minute, Leah Wilkinson firing the ball into the top right corner from the visitors' first penalty corner to quickly level.
Two minutes later, Surbiton were ahead, Izzy Petter getting the final touch as the ball trickled over the line just inside the right post to turn the match around.
Surbiton led 2-1 at the end of the first quarter on a beautiful sunny day in the North West and the visitors' day became even brighter in the 26th minute as Amy Costello extended their lead from their second penalty corner.
By half time, Surbiton led 4-1, Sophie Hamilton scoring in the final minute of the second quarter, although the goal was only confirmed after a brief umpire consultation.
To Bowdon's credit, they didn't give up, taking the game to Surbiton at the start of the second half, but couldn't find a second goal as the Surbiton defence managed to cope with the home team's attacks. A run and shot from the edge of the circle by Martha Taylor gave Surbiton a 5-1 advantage to put the league leaders firmly in control.
Giselle Ansley returned to the squad for the first time this season and in the 51st minute it was as if she had never been away as a trademark penalty corner conversion rebounded off the backboard in emphatic fashion for Surbiton's sixth goal.
Goal number seven came in the 69th minute when Hamilton scored her second goal of the match from Surbiton's sixth award to complete a professional performance and secure a ninth successive win after the opening day defeat at Reading.
Bowdon's day was summed up four minutes from time when Ellie Halstead showed her frustration by swinging her stick after an errant pass went out of play, however Surbiton were quite simply too strong for a Bowdon team trying to establish themselves back at top-flight level after spending three seasons in the second tier.
Bowdon had lost 6-1 at home to Leicester on 16 February 2013 and the defeat was Bowdon's heaviest in the Premier Division since they lost 7-1 at Canterbury in November 2015.
Mia Moore and Caroline Spence both scored as Reading won 2-0 at Wimbledon to stay five points behind Surbiton and seal second place.
Hampstead & Westminster are third after Madi Ratcliffe scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Beeston. East Grinstead are a point behind in fourth thanks to their 5-1 home win over Isca & University of Exeter. A hat-trick from Sophie Bray and goals from Grace Balsdon and Anna Faulstich earned the win with Freya Bellamy scoring Isca's late consolation goal.
The University of Nottingham are a point behind East Grinstead in fifth after a 3-3 draw at Clifton Robinsons. Rebecca Daniel gave Clifton a lead but Nottingham fought back to lead 3-1 through Holly Nixon, Jordan Homann and Maddie Stewart. Phoebe Richards and Evie Grindal secured a point with fourth quarter goals but couldn't find the winning goal to complete the comeback.
Bowdon dropped to sixth and there will be much to play for on the final weekend as Wimbledon and Clifton Robinsons are still in contention for a Top Six place as they both trail Bowdon by a single point in seventh and eighth respectively.
In the Midlands University derby, the University of Birmingham came out on top 2-1 against Loughborough Students. Hannah Atkinson and Coca Hall gave Birmingham a 2-0 lead after just ten minutes, but Loughborough could only respond once through Lily Beer in the 20th minute. Birmingham still have a mathematical chance of sneaking a Top Six place but they need to win at bottom club Isca and hope other results go their way.
Surbiton complete their 2023 programme when they return to Sugden Road on 18 November after two successive away games and welcome Clifton Robinsons to Elmbridge. As it's the last day of the first phase, all games are scheduled to start at 2 pm.