Beeston Too Strong For W2 in Cup Semi-Final
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women's second team had their hopes of a cup final appearance dashed by Beeston, who rebounded from the disappointment of relegation from the Premier Division the day before to win 7-2 at Sugden Road on Sunday, and reach the EH Women's Tier 1 KO Championships Final and face Holcombe, who won 4-0 at Doncaster.
Beeston had won 3-0 at Oxford Hawks and beaten St. Albans 2-1 at home on their way to the semi-final, while Surbiton had beaten Guildford 1s 4-2 at home.
Beeston had beaten Guildford 4-2 in the 2023 Tier 1 Final and were determined to defend their title when the ball was pulled back for Lauren Burrell to open the scoring in the sixth minute.
Surbiton were not daunted by coming up against Premier Division opposition with Tilly Gibson running towards goal before finding Amie Hunt, whose pass just eluded Hannah Denison in the circle. A minute later, Maelona Rees, Hunt and Denison combined before the move was thwarted by the award of a free hit for the visitors.
Lucy Millington found the backboard in the 17th minute to double Beeston's lead. At the end of the first quarter, Hannah Grieve and Millington both had shots saved from the visitors' first penalty corner of the match.
Surbiton trailed 3-0 at half time, Lottie Summers adding the third goal on the half hour.
Jessica Mauro increased Beeston's lead in the 38th minute after some determined defence and saves, but Surbiton were rewarded in the 45th minute when Amie Hunt pulled a goal back after a run of four penalty corners, Summers breaking from the line early from the fourth.
Surbiton were unlucky not to have opened their account four minutes earlier when Charlotte Calnan's effort went past the left post.
After conceding for the first time, Beeston immediately responded with a fifth goal, Millington scoring her second goal of the match in the 46th minute.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Euleena McLachlan ran towards goal before Martha Wong blocked her path as Surbiton continued their quest for a second goal.
Beeston's sixth goal came in the 59th minute, Burrell scoring for the second time in the match, but Surbiton didn't give up, Issy Yonge forcing a save from Steph Tirrell in the Beeston goal.
Surbiton struck again with four minutes to play, Denison emphatically smacking the ball against the backboard giving Tirrell no time to react before celebrating a very well taken goal.
Millington completed her hat-trick as Beeston once again immediately scored after a Surbiton goal to make the final score 7-2 in the 67th minute.
The margin of defeat should not detract from Surbiton's achievement of becoming the first second team to win a Tier 2 league title.
Holcombe, who won promotion back to the Premier Division after finishing second behind Surbiton in Division One South because second teams cannot play in the top tier and clubs can't have more than one team in a division, won 4-0 at Doncaster in the other semi-final with Deanna Ritchie scoring twice, Bethan Hodges scoring the Kent club's first goal and Hannah Carney netting their third goal.