A masterclass from Annie Wade-Jones in the Loughts goal secured yet another clean sheet as the Ladies 1s won 2-0 away at St Albans in the East Premier Division. Loughts started at pace and with only 2 minutes played Lucy Price fired a looping reverse strike towards goal which Emily Holmes dispatched into the net with an overhead smash that Roger Federer would have been proud of. On the stroke of half time Loughts won a penalty corner and Laura Oglesby’s powerful slap was expertly deflected into the top corner by Lucy Price for a stunning second.
After the break Annie and the Loughts defence were at their miserly best repelling all of St Albans efforts to reduce the deficit and cementing Loughts position as the team with the best defensive record in the league. Loughts have now secured a top 4 finish and will look to finish their season in style in the remaining 2 fixtures.

The ladies 2s also won 2-0, at home to Maldon 1s and they remain second in Division 2 South East and pushing for promotion. Thurrock L2s postponed their match against the L3s. The ladies 4s drew 0-0 with Thurrock L3s and stay second in Division 5 SE and the ladies 5s completed the clean sheet for the ladies section with a 1-0 win against Division 6 SE leaders Bishops Stortford Acolytes with Anabel Watson scoring the only goal.

The men’s 2s secured the East Area Division 1 South title and promotion into the East Premier Division in fine style winning 11-0 against Havering 1s with goals from Toby Gayler (2), Luca Gormley (2), Rahul Karri (2), Matt Lewis, Elliott Smith and Max Sydenham (3).

The M3s Foresters continued their push for promotion from Division 2 South East into Division 1 South by winning 3-1 against Saffron Walden 2s with Oscar Britt, Richard Falconer and Ryan Gladman scoring.

The M4s Academy lost 1-4 to Tendring 1s and the M5s Loppers won 4-1 against Upminster 4s with goals from Gurvir Jutla, Akram Khan, Matthew Punt and Max Sicklin. The M6s Willows clinched their Division 6 South East title and promotion into Division 5 South East in equally commanding form matching the M2s by winning 11-0 against Chelmsford 7s and now with a record of 20 wins from 20. Daniel Clark scored 4 and there were also goals from Jagdeep Aujla, James Donnelly, Mark Donnelly, Charlie Elliott, Jack Hughes (2) and Rob Simmons. In the same division the M7s Willows Woodsmen won 2-1 to stay third. In Division 7 SE the M8s Willows Rangers lost 3-7 against Basildon 2s and the M9s Willows Axemen lost 0-4 against Waltham Forest 5s.

On Sunday it was the turn of the M1s in the England Hockey National League but before that the girls under 16s were playing away at Waltham Forest and the boys under 14s development squad were at home to Waltham Forest both in friendlies. The girls were leading 2-1 with seconds to play but conceded a late short corner and the match finished 2-2. The boys performed well but lost 3-8.

A game against Indian Gymkhana is never easy and this one was no exception despite the score line. Indian Gym had a range of players with a variety of intricate stick skills. From the back their central defender could launch raking aerial balls with consummate ease to all parts of the pitch. Loughts needed to be at their best to defend the counter and to penetrate the opposition penalty area.

Loughts showed patience and maturity throughout the team and the game and eventually came out worthy winners. Max Heaver scored the first goal after a darting run by Tom Watson. Loughts started to create more chances but did not capitalise against a deep defence. On more than one occasion Gym were punished but put solid blocks into the resulting short corner routine.

Captain Conor Caplan, leading from the front, received a 10 minute yellow card in the 24th minute for adjudged sliding into the opposition when trying to score. A man down Loughts continued to attack but conceded an equaliser from an unanticipated short corner.
At half time and with the score 1-1, coach Lee Ible emphasised the need to stay compact and patient, move the ball at pace and press hard. If Loughts could force the opponents to play short passes they would pick up the scraps from the high press.

Loughts dominated the third quarter and ran Gym ragged without scoring a second. Manager Gerry Smith knew that if the team continued in the same manner Loughts would turn the score line around as they tired.

Loughts managed that with some style in the final quarter and brought some warmth to the vocal home faithful. Loughts scored three goals to secure the three points.. Tom Watson was on hand to convert a penalty corner and then a few minutes later, captain Caplan was on the end of an Ed Fleet power drive. Not to be outdone Andy Macgregor then finished off a fine team effort with a goal that flowed from back to front.
This was a superb performance. The whole team played as a unit and looked organised and committed and showed no little skill.