A large crowd gathered at Old Loughtonians Hockey Club on Saturday for the annual Club Day to watch the last two home games for the men’s and women’s 1s. The women were up first knowing that only victory against Letchworth would secure the East Premier league title and promotion back into the England Hockey national league.

Loughts started tentatively but any initial nerves were settled after only 11 minutes. Stevie Southall picked up the ball on the left hand side of the pitch and drove forward from her own half, evading challenge after challenge from Letchworth’s defensive unit. Southall continued into the D and beat the keeper at the near post for a remarkable solo effort to open the scoring. Loughts created multiple further promising opportunities with driving runs by Tash Patient and Em Davies but could not extend their lead before the break.

Two minutes after the restart Loughts doubled their advantage as player of the season Adele Sammons broke into the circle and her thunderous cross shot was expertly deflected home by Emily Holmes. With ten minutes remaining season top scorer Holmes made it 3 with another cute deflection this time from Katie Gleeson’s raking cross. The final whistle was greeted with delight in the stands and emotion on the Luxborough Lane pitch as the ladies celebrated their return to the National League after an absence of nine years.

The success of this outstanding group of individuals has been based on an incredible team ethic which has carried the side to the title with 19 wins and 14 clean sheets. Special mention to Loughts Head Coach Miranda Baldwin in her last game in the role after brilliantly plotting the team’s successful return over the last three seasons.

The W2s were away at Ipswich & East Suffolk and in a very tight affair succumbed 1-0. The W3s had a fine 4-1 win against Chelmsford 4s to take them to the top of division 3SE with two matches left to play. The W4s lost 3-1 to Witham 2s with Alison Harrold scoring for Loughts. The W5s won 2-1 away against Maldon 3s with both goals scored by Lara Williams.

Old Loughtonian’s M1s 6 – 4 Oxford Hawks M1s

The men also had a good day. Buoyed by a crowd already celebrating the ladies promotion, the M1s started strongly against Oxford Hawks and were 1-0 up after just 2 minutes with a goal from Andy McGregor. Loughts were 2-0 up within ten minutes when Will Godfrey slammed in from a penalty corner. At 2-0 up, Loughts eased off and allowed Hawks to pull 1 back before Mark Loughrey made it 3-1 just before half time with a well placed penalty corner conversion. Loughts became complacent and Hawks, needing a win to avoid relegation, threw everything at Loughts who had two players sin binned leading to Hawks not only equalising but going 4-3 up. Loughts however showed their class and in a blistering final 8 minutes scored 3 goals to win 6-4. First Andy McGregor brought Loughts level. Three minutes later Euan Gilmour took Loughts back in front from a well worked short corner routine. The best was left to last. Ed Fleet slapped a long pass to Harvey Edwards who controlled and swept the ball to Tom Watson who put the finishing touches on a fine team goal to round off an impressive display against a valiant Hawks side who had won 5-0 the week before. Loughts end the season next Sunday away at Sevenoaks.

The M2s travelled to Saffron Walden 1s in the East Area Premier league, played very well, and returned home with all three points. Archie Crowley opened the scoring after only two minutes and Sam Lowe added a second soon afterwards. Toby Gayler added a third to make it 3-0 at half time. Saffron Walden fought back to make it 3-1 before Will Hopkins made it 4-1. After a second from Saffron Walden, Ollie Davies rounded off the day to make it 5-2 before Waldon scored a consolation third. Loughts M2s remain third with Ipswich 1 promoted to the National league.

The M3s faced second placed Upminster 1s desperately needing a win with 5 teams within a point of each other in the relegation zone. Loughts won 3-1 and with two games to play hope to retain their place in Division 1 South. The M4s also had first team opposition and lost 4-1 away at Basildon. The M5s Willows match was cancelled. The M6s Willows Woodsmen won 5-4 at home to Maldon 2s and the M7s Willows Rangers drew 2-2 away against Upminster 5s. The season culminates next week.