W1 Go Top After 3-1 Win At Bowdon
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women returned to the top of the Women's Hockey League table after they won 3-1 at Bowdon and Hampstead & Westminster were held 2-2 at Loughborough Students thanks to a last gasp goal in Leicestershire.
Surbiton were top for the first two weeks of the season but a 3-3 draw at East Grinstead saw them drop to second place behind Hampstead before the leaders dropped their first points of the season.
The day proved more eventful than expected as the Surbiton team were caught up in train chaos due to damaged overhead lines in the Lichfield area, meaning trains were delayed by over an hour if not cancelled.
Fortunately, the players arrived at Bowdon in time for the match to begin as scheduled at 1330 with Surbiton giving first team debuts to Monica Alcover and Isy Key, with both players playing with confidence.
Surbiton tried to score an even quicker goal than their 24 second opener at East Grinstead with their first attack but the attempt was thwarted.
Bowdon seemed organised in defence with Ruth Wesson, Lucy Smith, Anna Mollenhauer and Hannah Macdonald all perfectly placed to intercept Surbiton attacks in the first quarter, but in spite of the home team's best efforts, Surbiton led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Erica Sanders found the backboard in the seventh minute and after Amy Costello had shot past the right post from Surbiton's first penalty corner, Sophie Hamilton and Alice Wills combined to force Surbiton's second award which saw Darcy Bourne's shot deflected into the net to double the visitors' lead in the twelfth minute.
Whenever Bowdon had possession, Surbiton didn't hesitate to win the ball back and put the home defence under pressure, whilst still putting together excellent passing moves, Giselle Ansley, Costello, Katie Curtis, Key and Hamilton combining well in the second quarter without reward.
Ayeisha McFerran kicked the ball out of the circle to safety towards the end of the second quarter, Surbiton having to settle for the two goal lead at half time.
Hamiliton went on one of her runs at the start of the third quarter to no avail, with Ellie Mackenzie also becoming a threat, Ella Burnley unluckily passing beyond Mackenzie when she was in space as Surbiton went in search of further goals.
The third goal duly came in the 43rd minute, Georgie Gardens finding the net to score her first goal in Surbiton colours to all but secure Surbiton's fifth win in succession away to Bowdon.
However, Bowdon didn't give up and posed a threat in the 47th minute when to the home supporters' delight, they were awarded a penalty corner which resulted in Lucy Tennant forcing a save from McFerran.
The game had started under overcast skies but by the end of the match, the sun was trying to make an appearance, just in time for Bowdon to pull a goal back with four minutes to play, Lucy Smith converting the hosts' second penalty corner to make the final score 3-1.
Hampstead were on course to stay in first place as they led 2-1 at Loughborough, coming from 1-0 down after Olivia Breed scored for Loughborough and Holly Hunt and Sofia Martin turned the match around. Amy Cradden was Loughborough's saviour with a 70th minute penalty corner conversion.
Reading and East Grinstead are three points off the lead in third and fourth respectively after Reading won 3-1 at Clifton Robinsons in the evening match and East Grinstead won 1-0 at Barnes. Lizzie Neal scored a brace and Caroline Spence scored Reading's third goal, Verity Clark scoring what turned out to be Clifton's consolation goal with all the goals coming before half time.
Millie Giglio earned East Grinstead all three goals with a 12th minute winner at Barnes as Barnes and Clifton Robinsons occupy the bottom two places whilst still looking for their first point of the season.
The University of Nottingham got off the mark with a 2-1 home win over West Midlands rivals the University of Birmingham. Kate Barker and Freya Robinson gave Nottingham a 2-0 half time lead but although Coca Hall scored in the fourth quarter, Nottingham prevailed on the final whistle.
Olivia Chilton's 46th minute penalty corner conversion was enough to ensure that Wimbledon returned from the long journey to the University of Durham with all three points.
Surbiton face a double header next weekend. On Saturday, Loughborough Students visit Sugden Road for a 1330 push back and then on Sunday, Surbiton travel to Clifton Robinsons, where the push back takes place at 1400.