W1 Extend Lead To Eight Points After Hampstead Victory
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women extended their lead in the Women's Hockey League Premier Division to eight points thanks to their 2-0 win at Hampstead & Westminster and second-placed Reading's 4-1 home defeat to East Grinstead.
Surbiton began their Top Six campaign at a rainy Paddington Recreation Ground and maintained their one hundred per cent Premier Division record at the venue, Meg Dowthwaite celebrating her return to the squad by opening the scoring in the eleventh minute.
Surbiton attacked from the start with Sarah Evans forcing a save from home goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard in the third minute and Leah Wilkinson setting up another attack with Hannah French forcing another save a minute later.
Hampstead fell behind in the eleventh minute with Izzy Petter and Sophie Hamilton attacking before Dowthwaite's shot rebounded off the backboard to put the visitors ahead.
In the first half, Hampstead couldn't find their rhythm, losing possession off the side-line and finding the Surbiton defence hard to break down. Both teams' cause wasn't helped when during the first and second quarters, a helicopter hovered overhead and a football from a neighbouring court behind Pritchard's goal found its way onto the pitch.
Katie Curtis was a threat down the left wing and Dowthwaite was denied by Pritchard in a second quarter again dominated by Surbiton.
To Hampstead's credit, they defended Surbiton's first four penalty corners before Leah Wilkinson doubled the visitors' lead from their fifth just before half time to leave Hampstead trailing 2-0 at the break.
Hampstead had lost Phoebe Willars for two minutes after she was shown a green card in the 31st minute for a foul on Martha Taylor which resulted in Surbiton's third penalty corner, but that was the only real incident of note.
Hampstead seemed to have a new lease of life in the third quarter and came close to halving the deficit in the 43rd minute when Madi Ratcliffe's shot from the right of the circle sailed narrowly past the left post to the gasps of the home supporters.
Surbiton still had opportunities to attack with Holly Payne dispossessed by Holly Hunt, but couldn't find a third goal with Curtis battling with Hampstead's Sarah Robertson, who after winning one defensive battle, was beaten by a Curtis run into the circle with Petter's attempt to score prevented by a clearance to the sideline by Iona Campbell.
In the fourth quarter, Surbiton had further penalty corner opportunities, but Hampstead's defence held firm, Surbiton settling for the 2-0 victory to take their winning streak to eleven matches.
East Grinstead closed to within three points of Reading with a convincing 4-1 win at Sonning Lane. Grace Balsdon gave the visitors the lead, but after Mia Moore equalised for the Berkshire club, Tess Howard's brace and Alexandra Malzer's penalty corner conversion gave East Grinstead their second victory of the season in Berkshire.
The University of Nottingham had to come from behind to beat Bowdon 2-1 at home. Rosie Threadgold put Bowdon in front, but an equaliser from Madeleine Axford and a penalty corner goal from Jordan Homann turned the match round for the students.
In the Lower Six, Clifton Robinsons beat Isca & University of Exeter 3-2 after Livvy Hoskins scored for Clifton in the first minute. Victoria McCabe quickly levelled for Isca but goals from Holly Munro and Amy Burton gave the hosts a 3-1 half time lead, Georgie Gardens scoring the only goal of the second half for Isca.
3-2 was also the score at Loughborough, but visitors Wimbledon returned to South West London with all three points. Wimbledon fell behind to a Madeleine Goodman opener, but recovered to lead 2-1 with two goals in seven minute spell, Fiona Crackles and Amelie Rees scoring. Amy Birch seemed to have salvaged a point for the Students with eight minutes to play but Lucy Holder secured the points with four minutes remaining.
The Midlands derby between Beeston and the University of Birmingham at Nottingham Hockey Centre went the way of the East, with Mads Newitt's 39th minute goal proving to be the winner as Beeston won 1-0.
Surbiton visit East Grinstead next Saturday. Push back at Saint Hill is 1600.