W1 Stunned As Reading Win 6-3
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women were stunned as Reading won 6-3 at Sugden Road on Saturday afternoon in the final Women's Hockey League Premier Division regular season match.
Surbiton conceded six goals in a Premier Division match for only the second time since they made their top-flight debut in 2012-13 and the other occasion was also on the last day of the Premier Division season, in 2019-20 when they lost 6-1 at East Grinstead.
The game can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here
Reading had not scored on their previous four visits to Sugden Road, but made up for lost time in the fourth minute as Caroline Spence gave them the lead from open play to become the first Reading W1 player to score at Surbiton since Rebecca Halle in 2013.
Reading won that match 2-1, but after 27 minutes, an away win was unlikely as Surbiton turned the match around to lead 3-1. Alice Wills equalised in the ninth minute, just touching an aerial ball into the goal with an outstretched stick beyond Amy Tennant.
Surbiton took the lead for the first time in the 20th minute, Meg Dowthwaite sliding towards goal to poke the ball home as the momentum seemed to have shifted towards the home team.
Seven minutes later, Leah Wilkinson finished off Surbiton's first penalty corner, firing from the left of the circle into the far corner of the goal to seemingly put the Premier Division winners in control.
However, Reading had other ideas and just before half time, Mia Moore found herself in front of goal before the ball was sent into the roof of the net to reduce Surbiton's lead to 3-2 at the interval.
In the 40th minute, Reading won possession outside Surbiton's 23 metre area, Phoebe Nixon able to run into the 23 metre area before beating Surbiton goalkeeper Sabbie Heesh to level the score at 3-3.
Five minutes later, Reading were in dreamland as they were back in front from their second penalty corner of the match, Rebecca Kaps scoring at the right post to give the Berkshire club a 4-3 advantage.
Reading had only won their first penalty corner of the match a minute earlier, but their routine was to prove to be decisive with their fifth and sixth goals coming from set-pieces.
With nine minutes to play, Shona McCallin found the backboard with a rebound shot from the visitors' third penalty corner and then in the final minute, Lizzie Neal added the sixth goal from Reading's fifth award, allowing Reading to complete a league double over Surbiton, having only won one Premier Division match against Surbiton before this season.
Reading scored six goals for the second successive match having beaten the University of Nottingham 6-0 last weekend, but their heroics were in vain in their attempt to wrestle second place from East Grinstead as the West Sussex club travelled to Nottingham and came away with a 7-2 victory.
Claudia Swain gave the Nottingham students the lead, but East Grinstead stormed back to lead 5-1 through two goals from Biba Mills and goals from Liv Breed, Sophie Bray and Chloe Brown. Maddie Axford pulled a goal back but Bray scored a second goal and Mills completed her hat-trick to ensure East Grinstead finished second, five points behind Surbiton.
Hampstead & Westminster had to come from 2-0 down to beat Bowdon 3-2 at Paddington Recreation Ground. Katie Alexander scored both Bowdon goals, but Hampstead scored three goals in eight minutes to win the match, Madi Ratcliffe starting the comeback and Rachel Greenwood netting twice from penalty corner to steal the win.
In the Lower Six, Wimbledon and Clifton Robinsons had already booked their League Finals places. Wimbledon drew 1-1 at the University of Birmingham, Becky Manton putting Wimbledon ahead before Emma Allroggen earned a point for the West Midlands students.
Clifton Robinsons lost 2-1 at home to Loughborough Students, Becca Malyon and Madeleine Goodman giving Loughborough a 2-0 lead, Phoebe Richards scoring for Clifton, but the Bristol club couldn't find the equaliser.
Isca & University of Exeter were relegated after Beeston avenged their earlier 2-0 defeat in Devon by winning by the same scoreline on their return. Charlotte Watson scored both Beeston goals either side of half time.
The League Finals Pools start next weekend, fixtures will be confirmed shortly.
On Sunday, Sutton Coldfield were promoted to the Premier Division for the 2024-25 season after Buckingham lost 4-1 at home to Durham University. With two games remaining, Sutton Coldfield lead Buckingham by seven points, meaning they will return to the top-flight for the first time since 2013-14 when they were relegated via the Promotion Tournament, when Holcombe and Buckingham both won promotion.
The Division One South promotion place is still up for grabs between Barnes and Holcombe who meet next weekend. Holcombe closed to within a point of second-placed Barnes following their 6-0 win at Team Bath Buccaneers and host Barnes next Saturday at 1400. Leaders Surbiton W2 cannot be promoted to the Premier Division and their lead was cut to six points with two games to play after they lost 3-1 at Slough on Saturday. Surbiton W2 visit Barnes on the final day of the season and host Harleston Magpies next Saturday at 1345.