Winning start of the season for Old Loughts in East Premier league

The new season in the East Area hockey league started on Saturday with 11 Old Loughts teams in action. In their opening match in the premier division Old Loughts men’s 2s were drawn away against last season’s runners up, Cambridge Uni M1s. As last year, it was a high quality intense match and as last season Loughts came away with a 1 -0 win courtesy of Ed Padfield who scored a skilful goal in the last quarter of the match. Padfield could have had a couple more from two excellent passes from Mitch Jones but could not quite reach them. Man of the match was keeper Alex Langdon who was ably supported by Josh Beardwell at the back and Martyn Lear up front as well as Jamie Askam making his club comeback.

The M3s also faced difficult opposition but played extremely well to earn a 3 -3 draw with Bedford M2s. The M4s faced first team opposition and narrowly lost 2 -3 against Romford M1s. The M5s Willows also faced local opposition and lost 1 -3 away against Crostyx M3s despite Phil Beauman scoring after just 3 minutes. The Willows Woodsmen M6s were away against Saffron Walden M5s and won 2-0 with goals from Ari Akanno and Conor Rodney. The Willows Rangers M7s drew 1 -1 with Witham 5s but the Willows Axemen M8s lost 1 -3 against Havering M4s.

The men’s first team start their campaign in the England Hockey National league next week against Teddington. Last season Loughts finished runners up and Teddington were third so this will be a key opening match for both teams. In the pre-season friendly on Saturday against Sevenoaks Tom Watson scored in a 1-1 draw.

The women’s 2s also had a tough start to the season, away at Bedford 2s and lost 0-2 after goals late in each half. The W3s, newly promoted into division 2SE faced Braintree W1s away but were hampered by the lack of a keeper. The scoreline of 1-4 does not reflect the closeness of what was a very good performance with Ellie Joyce scoring for Old Loughts. The W4s played out a tense 3-3 draw with Old Southendians W3s. Lynn Wright opened the scoring after just 5 minutes and Amy Wright added a second 15 minutes later. Mel Hau completed the scoring for Loughts in the second half. The result of the day came from the W5s who won 5 -0 away against Romford 2s. Erica Howlett scored 2 and Emily Horley, Purvey Thomson and Darcey Mackenzie completed the rout.

The W1s, newly promoted into the National league, as last season’s East Area champions, also start their campaign next weekend against Teddington. Their pre-season friendly on Saturday against local rivals Southgate ended in an encouraging 2-0 win for Loughts.