Despite their guaranteed promotion back to the National League after last weekend’s win, Bedford Hockey Club Ladies’ 1st XI weren’t going to rest on their laurels, taking on third in the table Bishop’s Stortford with pride at stake.
It was a fiercely fought match with both sides making presses in attack, and Bedford’s keeper, Leanne Sargeant, called into action numerous times, but Bedford confirmed their status as one of the division’s top sides with a 2-0 triumph.
The opening goal finally came late in the third quarter, when Bedford’s Alex Day calmly slotted the ball away with the Stortford keeper stranded on the opposite post.
The second goal saw a solo run from Ellie Scott in the closing minutes, weaving through the Stortford defence and into the ‘D’, along the back line and finishing with a diving strike to end the match 2-0.
The squad travel away to 11th in the division, Derham this coming weekend before returning to Chester Road on Saturday, 21 March for the final match of the season; a face-off with ninth place, St Albans.
The Ladies’ 2nd XI travelled to Colchester and gained a 3-2 win.
Amelia Godwin opened the scoring three minutes into the match, with Emma Gibbs getting the second and Katherine Winger the third. Colchester left it late to make their comeback from 3-0 down, but managed to grab their two goals within the final 15 minutes of play.
The Ladies’ 3rd XI had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Stevenage.
Stevenage had taken the lead just two minutes into the match, before Stephanie Knibbs pulled one back from open play for Bedford.
Stevenage went ahead once more towards the close of the first half; a scoreline that continued, until Bedford were awarded a penalty corner with four minutes left on the clock; Angharad Kinnear converting it to force the draw.
The Ladies’ 4th XI will be relieved to see the end of the season.
The team, having been placed in the same division as their 3rd XI club mates, have had a trying season. Their struggle continued at the weekend when they were hit by a 13-0 defeat away to second in the table, Hertford.
The Ladies’ 5th XI were devastated to end 1-0 down to Stevenage in a match Bedford dominated for much of the time, but failed to capitalise on their goal-scoring chances.
There was a defeat, too, for the Ladies’ 6th XI, losing 5-1 away to Letchworth.
The Ladies’ 7th XI won 2-0 against Welwyn Garden City, with goals from Cheri West and Suri Hutchinson.
The Men’s 1st XI had a tough match away to Cambridge University, falling 6-1 with Tom Parry scoring Bedford’s goal.
The team return to Chester Road this coming Saturday (14 March), when it will be another challenging fixture against third in the table, Cambridge City. Being President’s Day at the club, they will hope support from the home crowd will boost their play.
Sixth placed Men’s 2nd XI were disappointed to go 4-2 down to 11th placed, Harpenden. Bedford’s goals came from Adam Priston and Oscar Jenkins.
There was a loss, too, for the Men’s 3rd XI, the match ending 4-1 to Shefford & Sandy.
The Men’s 4th XI won 5-0 against Broxbourne, thanks in large to a hat-trick from Seb Ullah alongside goals from Oliver Waddington and Miles Ratcliffe.
The Men’s 5th XI sit four points clear at the top of the table after a 4-2 win over Rickmansworth, with James Logan and Elliot Potter each bagging a brace.
Their two remaining fixtures of the season are against Hertford’s 4th and 5th XIs, sitting in second and third. This coming weekend, it’s the second placed 5th XI they go head-to-head with.
There was also a win for the 6th XI, with goals from Simon Rees, Robert Chitty, Richard Jackson and Martin Macleod giving them their 4-1 victory over Harpenden.
The Men’s 7th XI also won 4-1 over Luton Town. Bedford’s goals came from Cameron Mulligan-Lapwood, Rob Campbell and a pair for Keith Waterhouse.
The squad currently sit in second place, unable to reach Old Haberdashers in first, but as the top two teams will be promoted, they are still in the running.
Letchworth in third have a game in hand, but Bedford will hope for a win this coming Saturday, when they play bottom of the table, Stevenage ahead of the team’s final match of the season against fifth placed Harpenden.
Words by Jean Fitch
