Old Loughtonians W1s 2 Harleston Magpies W2s 2
Old Loughtonians Women’s 1s remain top of the East Premier Division despite their eight game winning run coming to an end at home to Harleston Magpies W2s. Two goals in two minutes saw Loughts take control of the game in the first half. After 22 minutes Adele Sammons scored a wonderful individual goa,l waltzing past multiple challenges before rifling home from the top of the D. Lucy Price then made it 2-0 on 24 minutes with a deft lobbed finish after good approach play from Tash Patient to set up the opportunity. Emily Holmes almost made it three with a deflected effort from Stevie Southall’s penalty corner however the Magpies keeper stood tall to save well.
On the stroke of half time Loughts let Magpies back in the game with a cheap turnover allowing Magpies to link well and finish to reduce the deficit to 2-1 at the break. The second half was a scrappy affair with Magpies breaking up Old Loughts attempts to play flowing hockey at every opportunity. With 15 minutes remaining Magpies won a penalty corner which they struck home powerfully to level the game at 2-2. Loughts threw everything at Magpies as the clock wound down however it was not to be.
With two games remaining Loughts need to win both to be certain of the title and promotion to the National League; starting away at Norwich City next Saturday.
In the Men’s equivalent East premier league fixture the M2’s (in the first of 2 weekend matches) faced a 2 hour drive to Spalding and returned home dropping 2 points after a 2-2 draw and with 2 players needing hospital treatment against 2nd from bottom Spalding 1s who sadly resorted to force instead of skill. Toby Gayler scored the 2 goals for Loughts. On Sunday they had a second long drive this time to league leaders Ipswich 1s and despite missing 6 regular players only lost 1-4 and remain 3rd in the table.
The M3’s lost 1-2 against Brentwood 1s in division 1 South and the M4s drew 2-2 with Chelmsford 4s. The M5’s Willows were away at Old Southendians 3’s and narrowly lost 1-2. The M6’s Willows Woodsmen had a fine 4-0 win against Saffron Walden 5’s.
The W2’s had a good 3-1 win against Stevenage 1’s with Siobhan Daley, Cerys Edwards and Cressida Jamieson scoring. The W3’s beat Redbridge & Ilford 11-1 in a one-sided affair and the W4’s won 3-1 against Southend & Benfleet 3’s with goals from Alison Harold, Christine Tomlinson and Hannah Kelly. The W5’s drew 0-0 with Brentwood Academy.
On Sunday, after the euphoria of the away win against table toppers Southgate last week, the M1’s were hoping for some fireworks against Bristol University who had been travelling since 8.00am. Within 7 minutes Euan Gilmour danced around several defenders to plant the ball firmly into the net. Bristol responded bravely and were awarded a penalty stroke but Jack Tranter in the Loughts goal made a fine save high to his right to deny Bristol. At the end of the first quarter Mark Loughrey converted a short corner expertly won by Tom Watson and the fans expected the floodgates to open. Unfortunately this was not to be.
Bristol defended well for the rest of the match until Gilmour took a free hit from the right and threw the ball to the other side of the penalty area where Nathan Gladman was on hand to pluck the ball out of the air, beat one man and cross the ball. A foot block on the line resulted in a penalty stroke that Gilmour finished with aplomb. Next week Loughts playTeddington.