All To Play For After W1 Draw 1-1 With Hampstead
By Colin Pike
The race to clinch the first place finish and the first opportunity to qualify for Europe will go down to the wire after Surbiton Women drew 1-1 with Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday evening.
Hampstead would have clinched the first European place with a victory at Sugden Road and will be left to wonder how they had to settle for a draw after missing a simple chance to score in the first minute and having a penalty stroke saved near the end of the third quarter.
Hampstead had beaten Surbiton 2-0 at Sugden Road in the first meeting and threatened early after Holly Hunt won possession in midfield. A cross from the right eluded Catherine Ledesma in front of goal after just 32 seconds as she failed to make the vital contact to send the ball into the goal.
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the first quarter with Eloise Stenner battling to attack the Hampstead defence on the right, only for Hampstead to concede multiple free hits to stymie Surbiton's momentum.
Hampstead goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard saved from Darcy Bourne; Katie Curtis ran towards goal only to be thwarted by Olivia Hamilton and Ellie Mackenzie was frustrated as a shot from the right went straight across the circle.
In the second quarter, Rachel Greenwood and Esme Burge defended well against Surbiton attacks from Izzy Petter and Sophie Hamilton and the visitors were rewarded in the 25th minute with the opening goal.
Ledesma's cross/ shot from the left was deflected into the top right corner by Greenwood from reasonably short range to give Hampstead the lead.
Hampstead have boasted the best defensive record in the top flight this season and they showed why with their defenders perfectly placed to intercept Surbiton's attacks on top of using a pressing tactic.
Lucy Hyams showed good anticipation in defence for Hampstead towards the end of the first half and Mackenzie went close twice in succession in searching for Surbiton's equaliser, only for both efforts to go wide of the left post.
In the third quarter, it was Erica Sanders' turn to be frustrated as a deflection went past the left post and a subsequent shot went past the right post.
Hampstead had the opportunity to get an insurance goal in the 52nd minute, after being awarded a penalty stroke following an umpire consultation at the end of their third penalty corner. But Surbiton goalkeeper Amber Walton made what could prove to be a vital save to deny Esme Burge.
With nine minutes remaining, Darcy Bourne salvaged a point with a shot from an extremely acute angle wide of the left post, the shot somehow evading Pritchard in the Hampstead goal, this time frustrating the Hampstead defenders.
Surbiton tried to get the goal which would have lifted them into top spot above Hampstead, but Pritchard saved from Petter and Mackenzie's pass just eluded a diving Sanders, meaning that the teams had to settle for a point apiece. It was the first time that Surbiton and Hampstead had drawn a Premier Division match since the teams first met in the Premier Division in 2019-20.
The game can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here.
Reading's hopes of staying in contention for the first European place were ended in an amazing 6-5 home defeat to Wimbledon. Caroline Spence scored in the first minute for Reading, but Katie Birch equalised for Wimbledon five minutes later. Sarah Jones put Wimbledon 2-1 ahead only for Mia Moore to level. Flora Peel earned Wimbledon a 3-2 half time lead with Paige Gillott making the score 4-2 within seconds of the third quarter restart.
Peel scored her second goal and Wimbledon's fifth, but Reading fought back through Georgia Jones and Moore's second goal to trail 5-4. Becky Manton took the score to 6-4 before Emma McKenzie Findlay scored Reading's fifth goal, with no further goals added in the final sixteen minutes.
The last time a WHL Premier Division team won 6-5 away was on 1 December 2012 when Clifton won 6-5 at Sutton Coldfield.
East Grinstead beat Loughborough Students 4-2 in West Sussex. Millie Giglio, Ellie Rayer, Olivia Shannon and Tess Howard scored for the hosts with Beth Alexander and Mihairi Low replying for Loughborough.
In the Lower Six, Sutton Coldfield's relegation to Division One was confirmed after a 5-0 home defeat to the University of Birmingham. Sarah Parkinson-Mills, Sophie Flint, Izzy Shelley, Coca Hall and Ruby Spavin were all on target to leave Sutton Coldfield thirteen points from safety with only four games remaining.
They will be replaced by Barnes, who are Division One South champions after they won 5-2 against Surbiton W2 earlier on Saturday. Barnes came back from trailing 2-0 after just eight minutes with Aleesa Ferguson scoring a hat-trick and Lara Tegner scoring twice. Barnes lead the University of Exeter by four points with just one match remaining.
In Division One North, Durham University carry a three point lead over second-placed Beeston into the final weekend. Durham travel to Gloucester City and Beeston visit Ben Rhydding to decide which team will play in the Premier Division next season.
Back in the Lower Six, Bowdon beat the University of Nottingham 4-3 to stay two points ahead of Clifton Robinsons. Annabel Mills notched a hat-trick with Rebecca Birch also scoring for Bowdon. Katie Alexander, Matilda O'Dea and Monica Watkins scored for Nottingham.
Clifton Robinsons stayed in touch with Bowdon courtesy of their 2-0 win at Holcombe. Darcy Shields and Livvy Lane scored in the third quarter.
Next weekend, as it's the final week of Phase Two, all matches start at 1400. Surbiton host East Grinstead whilst Hampstead & Westminster are at home to Reading.