W1 Close To Top Place Finish After 1-0 Win Over Reading
By Colin Pike
Surbiton Women edged closer to securing a top place finish at the end of Phase 2 of the Premier Division, with their second win of the weekend, 1-0 at home to Reading on Sunday afternoon.
Surbiton maintained their six point lead over second-placed Hampstead & Westminster, who with two games left, can only match Surbiton's 35 point tally. Third-placed East Grinstead are seven points behind with both Surbiton and East Grinstead having three games to play including a meeting at Saint Hill next Sunday. However, East Grinstead also have to host Hampstead next Saturday, whilst Surbiton entertain Durham University, so the destination of the first European place could be decided before Easter.
The game can be watched back via the Surbiton HC channel on You Tube here
Reading came to Sugden Road having lost 2-0 at Durham University the day before and ultimately had to rely on goalkeeper Nicki Cochrane, who made some excellent saves both from penalty corner and open play with the Reading defence successfully defending thirteen Surbiton penalty corners.
Both Amy Costello and Giselle Ansley were unlucky to shoot wide of the goal in a first quarter which saw Surbiton force four set-pieces, and Lizzie Neal thwarted Erica Sanders' attack towards the end of the first period.
The only goal when it came was a brilliant example of Surbiton's passing game, Eloise Stenner playing a one-two movement with Sophie Hamilton on the right before crossing the ball to Sanders in the circle, another pass to the left controlled by Maddie Axford before the ball was slipped past Cochrane and against the backboard in the 25th minute.
A few minutes later, Reading were resolute in defending a series of penalty corners to deny Ansley and Costello.
Shortly after half time, Costello was denied by Cochrane again with Jemima Copeman in support to clear the ball. Hamilton, Axford and Sanders all had chances, but Cochrane was not to be beaten again, not even when Sanders sent a shot narrowly past the left post from Surbiton's twelfth penalty corner with five minutes remaining as Reading suffered a defeat for the second day running having failed to score in both matches.
Ayeisha McFerran, having only returned from injury the day before, collected her fourth clean sheet of the season, and Isy Key and Monica Alcover both played their part over the weekend to help Surbiton achieve their target of winning both matches.
Hampstead needed a Lauren Hunt goal in the penultimate minute to deny Wimbledon a point at Paddington Recreation Ground as they emulated Surbiton and won 1-0 at home.
Durham University, who will achieve a Top Six finish in their first ever season in the Premier Division, lost 3-2 at home for the second time in three matches, having lost to Surbiton in the last match of 2025. East Grinstead led 2-0 through Biba Mills and Millie Giglio, and although Lorna Crawford halved the deficit, Mills restored East Grinstead's two goal advantage. Katie Rimmer scored Durham's second goal with seven minutes left, but couldn't find an equaliser. Durham University visit Sugden Road next Saturday.
In the Lower Six, the University of Birmingham moved into seventh above Loughborough Students on goal difference after a comprehensive 4-0 home win over the University of Nottingham. Lottie Bingham, Lottie Atkinson, Hannah Pearce and Betsan Thomas all boosted the West Midlands students' hopes of joining the Top Six teams in qualifying for the Premier Division Finals at Surbiton in May.
Bowdon are four points behind the top two after a 2-1 home win over Barnes. Naomi Kelly equalised for Barnes after Georgia Carroll put Bowdon ahead, but a 55th minute winner from Annabel Mills kept the Altrincham club in contention for a place in the Premier Division qualifiers.
Clifton Robinsons' match with Loughborough Students was brought forward to last weekend and all six teams have played 13 games. Barnes are eight points adrift of safety, whilst the University of Nottingham, who are in the second relegation place, trail Clifton Robinsons by three points.