W1 To Face Hampstead in Premier Division Final
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women will face Hampstead & Westminster in the Women's Hockey League Premier Division Final after Surbiton beat Wimbledon 2-0 for the second time this season in the second semi-final, Hampstead having ended East Grinstead's title defence in dramatic fashion.
East Grinstead led Hampstead 2-0 through Anna Faulstich in the eleventh minute and Sophie Bray in the 15th minute when the reigning champions seemed to be cruising into the final.
But Hampstead fought back, pulling a goal back in the 45th minute as Holly Hunt scored at Surbiton Hockey Club for the second week running, having scored in last week's 4-1 defeat to Surbiton, before there were late drama.
Hampstead were handed a lifeline when East Grinstead conceded a penalty corner with just 12.5 seconds to play and took full advantage, a shot being blocked illegally leading to a penalty stroke award.
Joie Leigh made no mistake to send the semi-final to a shootout.
Hampstead went first with Lily Owsley scoring before Sophie Bray levelled for East Grinstead. The West Sussex club had the advantage when Alex Malzer gave them a 2-1 lead after Joie Leigh failed to score. Both Holly Hunt and Liv Breed failed to score from each team's third attempts before the momentum swung towards Hampstead when Madi Ratcliffe equalised for Hampstead and Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort failed to score.
Sofia Martin put Hampstead 3-2 ahead and East Grinstead's fate was sealed when Chloe Brown was thwarted by Miriam Pritchard with Hampstead reaching their first Championships final.
The match can be watched back via the England Hockey TV channel on You Tube here
Surbiton had beaten Wimbledon 2-0 at Sugden Road back in October and just as in the first meeting, Martha Taylor scored the first goal, this time in the eighth minute from Surbiton's first penalty corner.
Alice Sharp added the second from open play in the 21st minute to end Wimbledon's hopes of a first final appearance and set up a third-placed meeting with East Grinstead.
The second semi-final can be watched back via the England Hockey TV channel on You Tube here
East Grinstead will meet Wimbledon in the third-placed playoff at 1000 on Sunday morning. Wimbledon beat East Grinstead 3-2 at home in October, but East Grinstead won 2-1 in Sussex on 16 March in League Finals Pool B.
Surbiton will play Hampstead for the second week running, at 1430 on Sunday. Surbiton will be going for their ninth title whilst this will be Hampstead's first final appearance, having finished third in the League Finals last season.
Surbiton won 4-1 last week and won 3-1 at Sugden Road back in October as well as winning 2-0 at Paddington Recreation Ground in February, but the prospect of a first league title might just inspire Hampstead to try and spoil the hosts' party for a second successive season.
More information about the WHL Premier Division Finals can be found at the England Hockey Altius website here
Tickets for Sunday can be bought here