England Hockey League 2023/24 Premier Division Weekend 4 Review

Bowdon went top of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division while Isca & University of Exeter climbed off the bottom after their first ever win in the top flight.

Katie Alexander and Catriona Booth scored in the 15th and 18th minute to give Bowdon breathing space against Loughborough Students before captain Sian French netted from their second corner goal in the 34th for a 3-0 win.

French had also scored the winner in Bowdon’s last Premier Division visit to Loughborough in 2019. This win now gives them 10 points from four games and a one-point lead over Surbiton.

Isca & University of Exeter head of women’s hockey, Matt Way, hailed a first Premier Division win after beating Beeston 2-0 through counter attack goals from Georgie Gardens and Amelie Allen.

Way said: “The group showed great resilience to bounce back from a tough defeat last weekend. We trained very well this week and there was a fantastic atmosphere going into the game. 

“We’re delighted to claim our first ever win in the Premier League and hope we can build momentum from here. A special mention has to go to Jess Buchanan, who was outstanding in goal for us.”

Mads Newitt missed an early penalty stroke for Beeston, who enjoyed majority possession throughout but couldn't make it count.

A Tess Howard double wasn’t enough as East Grinstead went down 3-2 at Wimbledon.

Becky Manton has now scored in three of Wimbledon’s four league games this season following her eighth minute opener.

Howard struck back with two goals in three minutes before half-time. But Wimbledon secured their first win of the campaign when Harriet Naismith and Manton netted.

Jordan Homann was in superb form from the set piece after blasting a hat-trick in University of Nottingham’s thrilling 4-3 win over Reading.

It was the first time that the home team has won this fixture at the third attempt in the Premier Division. Hormann’s goals lifted her to equal leading scorer, with six.

She holds top spot with Surbiton’s Hannah French, who scored two goals for the third league match in succession.

Surbiton matched a 3-1 scoreline from last season’s win over Hampstead & Westminster to go second in the league behind Bowdon on Saturday.

Like Bowdon, Clifton Robinsons remain unbeaten after a home draw against University of Birmingham.

It was the second time this season that Evie Grindal and Sarah-Jayne Thorburn have both scored in a 2-2 draw.

Coca Hall had given the students a second minute lead before Carter Ayars scored a last-gasp penalty corner to salvage a point and deny the Robbies top spot.

STAT ATTACK

What’s in a surname? Sian French scored for Bowdon on the same day as Hannah French (Surbiton) and Sam French (Hampstead & Westminster men) also netted.

*Stats provided by Colin Pike

Five teams share top spot in the Men’s Premier Division, with Hampstead & Westminster leading the way on goal difference.

The Londoners carved out a 4-2 win away at Oxted to sit top on nine points after the fourth weekend of action.

This match looked to be heading for a draw after Oxted had latched onto two H&W mistakes. But the hosts suffered two yellow cards in the third and fourth quarters as H&W found their rhythm and quick tempo passing on Oxted's sand-dressed pitch.

Sam French (63) and Kei Kaeppeler (67) netted late on for Hampstead & Westminster to secure three points.

Coach Andrew Wilson said: “It was a tough win and we showed some grit and strong mentality where we were riding some heavy tackles. 

“We could easily have got frustrated, we created some great chances and the Oxted keeper made some great saves. But we created one too many chances, especially when they were a man down.”

Hampstead have now scored four goals in all three Premier Division meetings with Oxted.

Surbiton are also level on nine points after meting out a 7-3 victory at Southgate on Saturday night.

Struan Walker netted four to move top in the leading scorer table, with seven, while Louis Gittens scored a brace with two superb finishes.

Surbiton were missing several key players through injury, including corner hitters Gareth Furlong and Luke Taylor. But Walker stepped up to the mark with a hat-trick of corner goals and a penalty stroke as Surbiton scored three in eight second-half minutes.

Surbiton last scored seven away from home in March 2020 when they won 7-1 at Beeston.

“After the disappointment in our performance last weekend, it was a real clinical display from our forwards and PCA battery,” said Surbiton defender Brendan Creed.

“What an amazing set up it is at Southgate, they really have something going at the moment; an awesome Saturday night atmosphere and thankfully we rose to the occasion.”

Wimbledon, who also moved onto nine points, beat East Grinstead 2-0 at home for the second successive season courtesy of first-half goals from Connor Greentree and Rory Patterson.

In their first National League meeting, Beeston ground out a fine 4-1 win under the Cardiff & Met lights at the National Hockey Centre.

Gareth Griffiths netted a double for the Midlanders while Henry Croft scored his sixth of the season in a comfortable win.

Meanwhile, Reading remain unbeaten at University of Nottingham following a 3-2 win.

Michael Chapman, Tom Minall and Nick Catlin had given the visitors a 3-0 lead before Edward Brice and Louis Tipper scored twice in three minutes with 12 minutes left.

However, Benjamin Mackey bagged the points with a 70th minute penalty corner goal for jubilant Reading.