Vitality Women's Premier Division 'Top 6' Off To A Flyer As Three Teams Sit Level At The Top

Photo credit: @asandysmith (Twitter)

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East Grinstead and Surbiton moved level on points with Hampstead & Westminster to create a three-way tie at the top of the Premier Division as Phase 2 of the season got off to a thrilling start.

The Vitality Women’s Premier Division has been split into two for the second half of the campaign and Saturday’s matches saw the Top 6 play outdoors for the first time in 2022.

And Wimbledon put a cat among the pigeons at the summit by inflicting just a second defeat of the season on previous leaders Hampstead & Westminster, winning 2-1 in an all-capital battle.

An action-packed start saw the visitors take a fourth-minute lead through Lauren Turner only for Fiona Burnet to equalise five minutes later.

The sides went into the break level but Burnet’s 53rd-minute strike proved decisive as Wimbledon moved themselves to within four points of the top three.

East Grinstead, in search of a double after their indoor success last weekend, are the new leaders on goal difference after they also came from behind to win 2-1 at Beeston.

Bea Bell put Beeston ahead in the seventh minute but Ellie Rayer struck either side of half-time to turn the game on its head.

An early blitz saw Surbiton ease to a 3-1 success at Clifton Robinsons and retain their unbeaten record.

Sophie Hamilton, Martha Le Huray and Leah Wilkinson ensured Surbiton were three goals to the good inside 12 minutes, meaning Livvy Hoskins’ reply just shy of the hour mark was little more than a consolation.

Division 1 North

University of Nottingham stayed at the summit thanks to a 6-2 win at Stourport, Maddie Axford’s brace extending her run of consecutive games scored in to 10. Bowdon and Gloucester City both began the new year in style, hitting six without reply against Olton & West Warwicks and Belper respectively. University of Durham went one better, winning 7-0 against Leicester City, while Brooklands Poynton drew 2-2 in an entertaining clash with Ben Rhydding.

Division 1 South

Sevenoaks saw their lead at the top cut to two points as they suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 2-1 at home to Wimbledon 2s. Reading took advantage, winning 3-0 at Harleston Magpies, and the race for the sole promotion spot looks set to heat up as the second half of the season goes on. At the other end, Trojans picked up their first win of the campaign after edging out Cambridge City 4-3. Canterbury won 3-2 at Surbiton 2s while Isca’s clash with Slough was postponed.

Conference East

Barnes’ miserly defence came to the fore once more as they won 1-0 at Bromley & Beckenham to stay top. London Wayfarers were impressive 5-1 victors at Canterbury while Chelmsford also had a successful away day, coming back from Hampstead & Westminster 2s with a 2-0 win. East London edged a mid-table clash with Horsham 2-1.

Conference Midlands

The top two both earned victories, leaders Sutton Coldfield beating Cannock 2-1 to stay three points clear of Bedford, who won 3-1 at third-placed St Albans to extend the gap between the two sides to eight points. Loughborough Students defeated Oxford University 3-2 while bottom side Khalsa Leamington went down 2-0 at University of Birmingham. Broxbourne and Beeston 2s played out a 1-1 draw.

Conference North

Leeds moved out on their own at the top after winning 3-0 at Doncaster in a Yorkshire derby. Timperley, who had been level at the summit on goal difference, are now three points back after losing 3-1 at home to Alderley Edge. Wakefield missed a chance to go second as they were beaten 2-0 at bottom side Neston, who picked up just their second victory of the season, but there were no such problems for fellow promotion challengers University of Durham 2s as they ran out 3-0 winners at Pendle Forest. Didsbury Northern beat Fylde 2-1 in a battle between two sides not yet out of the promotion picture.

Conference West

The clash between the top two lived up to the billing as Bristol Firebrands and Witney played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, Rebecca Dru equalising for the hosts a minute from time. They are each now a point clear of Oxford Hawks, who slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Penarth. Cheltenham beat Clifton Robinsons 2s by the same scoreline while Basingstoke edged past bottom side University of Bristol by the odd goal in three. Isca’s clash with Team Bath Buccs was postponed