The quest by Bedford Hockey Club’s Ladies’ 1st XI to return to the National League continued on Saturday (21 February) when they took on Upminster.
They remain eight points clear of second placed, Broxbourne in East Women’s Premier Division.
Bedford dominated play, with the first goal coming off the stick of prolific scorer Kate Costin with a penalty corner conversion seven minutes into the match.
Kate kept the goals flowing, going on to complete her hat-trick, before team captain, Emma Pinny bagged a goal from open play, with Kelly Bingham bringing Bedford’s tally to five from a penalty corner in the final minute of the match.
The 5-1 victory keeps Bedford clear at the top of the division on 44 points, with just four matches left to play until the close of the season.
This coming Saturday (28 February), they travel to Cambridge to take on third in the table, Cambridge City.
The Men’s 1st XI put up an incredible fight away to third in the table, Pelicans. The match saw a first team debut for Bedford youngster, Sam Barnes.
After Pelicans had gone 3-0 up, a goal from Harry Pybus got Bedford on the scorecard 27 minutes into the match to start the fightback. A second goal for Bedford came a few minutes later off the stick of Jack Bellamy.
In the 47th minute, Joseph Purslow brought the scores level. A goal by Pelicans in the final quarter, however, saw them snatch the win.
The squad is back on home turf this weekend when they host Cambridge South, who sit bottom of the table. There is a 2pm push back at Chester Road.
The Ladies’ 2nd XI knew they would have a close match away to Crostyx; the two teams sitting neck-and-neck in the division on points, with Crostyx having a slight advantage by four goals on goal difference.
As anticipated, it was an even contest, but it was Bedford who opened the scoring with a goal from open play by Rebecca Stabler. The remainder of the first half continued with no further score.
Crostyx took control in the second half, three goals seeing them into the lead with just ten minutes left to play.
A final push from Bedford brought them level again; a goal by Emma Gibbs on the 61st minute and one by Harriet Potter on the 67th saw the teams share the points to maintain a status quo in the table.
There was a brilliant 4-0 win for the Men’s 2nd XI over Chelmsford. Bedford opened the scoring early with a goal by Ben Oakley, just two minutes into the match, followed by one for Arran De Sousa-Butterworth on the five-minute mark.
Bedford’s two further goals came at the tail end of the game; Lee Hoggett converting a penalty corner in the 63rd minute and Adam Priston netting a goal from open play in the final minutes.
A hat-trick by Emma Burak secured a 3-1 win for the Ladies’ 3rd XI over Welwyn Garden City, seeing Bedford sit a comfortable fifth in the division.
The Men’s 3rd XI, sitting at the lower end of the table, were hit hard by second in the table, St Albans, losing 6-1.
There was a loss for the Ladies’ 4th XI, going 2-1 down to St Albans. The goal by Emma Cook came close to bringing the draw, but even that would have failed to lift the team from the relegation zone.
Goals by Ned Neale and Jake Woodrow brought a 2-0 win for the Men’s 4th XI over Letchworth and sees Bedford sitting fifth in the table.
The Ladies’ 5th XI had a double header, coming away from their weekend with a win and a loss.
Celebrations came from the Saturday fixture; a 2-1 win over Blueharts, with goals from Toni Wakeham-Moon and Ali Woodward. An away journey and tired legs on Sunday saw them return home after a 2-0 loss to third in the table, Cheshunt.
There was a 1-1 draw for the Men’s 5th XI against St Albans with Alex Smallwood bagging the goal. The squad hold their promotion spot at the top of the table by four clear points.
Goals by Maddison Taylor and Nicola Reddy weren’t enough to prevent a loss for the Ladies’ 6th to St Albans with St Albans taking the win, 4-2.
There was a loss too for the Men’s 6th XI as Letchworth walked away with the points after their 1-0 win.
The Ladies’ 7th XI took points for a walk-over by their Chiltern opponents, although did get to play the match as a friendly, Chiltern supplementing their squad with some players from Luton.
The friendly ended in a 3-0 victory for Bedford, with a goal by Winnie Ralley-Davies and two by Cheri West.
There was a rare loss for second in the table Men’s 7th XI, going 2-1 down away to Rickmansworth. Bedford’s goal was scored by Louis Bunker.
Words by Jean Fitch
