W1 Held 2-2 At Home By Reading
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women were held at home by Reading in their first Women's Hockey League Premier Division Top Six match of 2025, drawing 2-2 on Saturday night.
Third-placed Surbiton led twice, but second-placed Reading fought back to equalise to stay a point ahead of Surbiton with four games remaining in Phase Two.
Hampstead & Westminster, who went top of the Premier Division table for the first time this season after winning 5-1 at Reading in their final match of 2024, extended their lead over Reading to four points courtesy of a 2-1 home win over Loughborough Students.
Giselle Ansley and Izzy Petter made their first appearances of the season after being absent in Phase One, and Surbiton were without Ellie Mackenzie, on Scotland duty in the Hockey Nations Cup in Chile. Mackenzie scored the second goal in a 2-0 win over Canada, a result which assures Scotland of retaining their Hockey Nations Cup status.
Scotland went on to beat Japan 2-0 on Sunday to finish fifth.
Seven of the eight goals scored in the 4-4 draw at Sonning Lane back in October came from penalty corners and Reading had an early opportunity in the second minute, Ansley clearing an effort from Sarah Spooner off the line.
Surbiton started to put together some good passing movements with Sophie Hamilton and Erica Sanders combining before being thwarted by Lizzie Neal.
Surbiton's penalty corner injections were not as effective as usual with Ansley unable to drag-flick from the hosts' first penalty corner and the injection from the second mis-trapped, whilst Reading missed the chance to open the scoring from their second award after Hannah Kilpatrick's shot went past the left post.
Darcy Bourne conjured up an excellent breakaway run from inside her own half, only to be forced to shoot past the left post by Reading goalkeeper, Nicki Cochrane.
Amber Walton made an excellent save from Reading's Caroline Spence and after Reading quickly regained possession, Walton kept out efforts from Sammy Petch and a second shot from Spence to keep the game goalless.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 27th minute, an excellent passing move from one end of the pitch to the other culminating in a penetrating angled pass from Jordan Homann to Alice Sharp to find the backboard.
Surbiton's lead lasted just two minutes as Georgia Howe found the backboard from Reading's fourth penalty corner of the match, for her first Premier Division goal for the Berkshire club.
Surbiton began the third quarter with another flowing passing move, involving Sharp, Katie Curtis and Holly Wilkinson before the ball found its way back to Sharp who couldn't find a way past Reading's Neal.
Reading fell behind for a second time in the 47th minute, Alice Wills' pass into the circle finished off by Petter, however the goal was only awarded after an umpire consultation.
Having converted their fourth penalty corner, Reading only had one further penalty corner opportunity and they took full advantage, Georgia Jones scoring her fourth goal of the season.
There was late drama when Surbiton Coach Dave Beckett was shown a yellow card with three minutes remaining. Surbiton Captain Martha Taylor, who had received a yellow card of her own in the 56th minute, received an unexpected extra birthday card, when she was withdrawn to serve Beckett's suspension in her role as team captain.
In spite of this, it was Surbiton who had a late chance to snatch the victory when they were awarded their third and final penalty corner in added on time, only for Cochrane to deny Ansley and salvage an away point.
The game can be watched back via the Surbiton Hockey Club channel on You Tube here.
Lucy Hyams put Hampstead 1-0 ahead against Loughborough and after Liv Breed levelled, Catherine Ledesma scored what could be a significant winning goal as the London club won 2-1.
East Grinstead closed to within two points of Surbiton with a 4-2 win at Wimbledon. The West Sussex club led 4-0 thanks to Biba Mills' brace and goals from Carlota Gomez and Grace Balsdon. Wimbledon made a mini comeback with Lydia Macdonell and Lucy Holder scoring in the fourth quarter.
In the Lower Six, there is a three way tie in the race for a top two spot to qualify for the League Finals Pools with the University of Birmingham, Clifton Robinsons and Bowdon all on twelve points. The University of Nottingham and Holcombe are only a point behind on eleven with Sutton Coldfield on one point and close to automatic relegation.
In the Midlands University derby, Birmingham drew 2-2 with Nottingham. Nottingham led twice through Freya Robinson and Chloe Walton, but Carter Ayars and Lily Sokhi pegged the East Midlanders back twice, Sokhi scoring in the penultimate minute.
Clifton Robinsons dropped to second on goal difference after a 2-1 defeat at Bowdon. Georgia Carroll gave Bowdon the lead, but after Sarah-Jayne Thorburn levelled for Clifton, Alia Jaques gave Bowdon their first win since 20 October.
Sutton Coldfield seem destined for an immediate return to Division One hockey after they lost 2-0 at Holcombe. Sarah Robertson, who has re-joined the Kent club and Tessa Reid were Holcombe's scorers.
Next Saturday, Surbiton head to Raynes Park High School to face Wimbledon (push back 1600). When the teams met at Sugden Road in October, Wimbledon came from 1-0 down to win 2-1.