Beeston And Knole Park Earn Cup Final Victories

Beeston lifted the Tier 1 Championship trophy after defeating Buckingham 3-1 in an entertaining final at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.

Hannah Grieve, Lucy Millington and Lauren Burrell netted for the victors to open up a 3-0 lead, with Lauren Thomas scoring Buckingham’s late consolation.

Beeston were first to threaten when Millington made a superb solo run into the circle but her ball across could not find a teammate.

It did not take long for the Nottingham outfit to make the breakthrough, however, as another incisive attack was ended when Cerys Miller was brought down by Buckingham goalkeeper Nicole Marks.

Grieve stepped up and dispatched the penalty stroke into the top corner, much to the delight of the hearty travelling contingent.

Buckingham grew into the contest and came close to levelling through Georgina Black, whose effort was kept out by Steph Tirrell at her near post.

But Beeston were in ruthless mood and doubled their lead just four minutes into the second quarter, Millington converting following a penalty corner.

Buckingham scrambled clear following another dangerous Millington run shortly afterwards and later spurned a chance to get themselves on the scoresheet, breaking quickly from a Beeston penalty corner only for the final pass to evade Black in the circle.

Miller came close to adding a third either side of the half time buzzer, the second opportunity set up by a fine reverse pass by Alice Huddlestone from the left touchline, and Nadia Benallal also came within a whisker of stretching the advantage but failed to connect to a deflected effort with the goal at her mercy.

Ella Cusack was denied by a smart Marks stop in the final quarter as Beeston looked to put the result beyond doubt, which they did when Lauren Burrell diverted Grieve’s shot home following a penalty corner on the hour mark.

Buckingham got the goal back their efforts deserved with three minutes remaining, a penalty corner of their own resulting in Lauren Thomas drilling into the bottom corner, but Beeston saw out the closing stages to etch their name on to the trophy.

Earlier in the day, Knole Park 2nd XI lifted the Tier 4 trophy after an inspired display saw them defeat Golborne 5-0.

The Kent side started the game on top and, after forcing a string of short corners without finding the net, Summer Knight-Thompson broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a fine solo effort.

The same player doubled her tally with a smart reverse stick finish nine minutes later and it was 3-0 before half time as Evie Smith popped up at the back post to tap home Alessia Turner's pass.

Golborne goalkeeper Becky Baldock superbly kept out a penalty stroke in the second half but she could not prevent Charlotte Watkins' deflected effort adding to Knole Park's advantage in the 41st minute to put the game out of reach.

Golborne kept battling and created a string of half-chances as they sought to pull one back but Knole Park's clinical edge shone through with five minutes to go as Celia Foster's reverse stick shot made it 5-0.