Reading Stretch Advantage In Race For Promotion

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With the men’s Premier Division not returning until next weekend, Division 1 and the Conferences took centre stage in the England Hockey League – and they did not disappoint.

We begin our round-up with a look at an action-packed weekend in Division 1 North…

Division 1 North

Loughborough Students remain a point clear at the top after a convincing 6-2 win over fourth-placed Bowdon. Tom Ferris’ brace helped the leaders into an early 3-0 lead but battling Bowdon brought it back to 3-2, only for three goals in seven second-half minutes to seal the outcome. University of Nottingham stayed on Loughborough’s tail courtesy of a 4-0 win over Sheffield Hallam while Cardiff & Met lost ground after being held to a 1-1 draw by University of Birmingham. City of Peterborough picked up their first win of the season in style, beating Cambridge City 6-2, and Olton & West Warwicks thumped Deeside Ramblers 6-0.

Division 1 South

Reading extended their lead at the summit to nine points on a profitable weekend for the Berkshire outfit. Second-placed Canterbury went down 3-1 at home to Teddington on Saturday evening, Kyle White netting a hat-trick, meaning Reading arrived in Brighton knowing victory would stretch their advantage – a 5-2 win ensured they did just that. Sevenoaks are now just a point behind Canterbury after winning 2-0 at Havant, while Oxford Hawks beat Southgate 2-1 and Alex Renwick’s last-gasp leveller salvaged a point for Team Bath Buccs at home to Old Cranleighan.

Conference East

It’s as you were at the top after the top two, Old Loughtonians and Richmond, played out an entertaining 3-3 draw which keeps the former four points clear at the top. Third-placed London Wayfarers also played out a six-goal thriller as they drew at Indian Gymkhana. Wayfarers have been joined on 16 points by Spencer, who edged out West Herts 5-4, and Wapping, who were 2-1 winners at London Edwardians. Bromley & Beckenham put valuable distance between themselves and the bottom two with a 3-0 win at Hampstead & Westminster 2s.

Conference Midlands

Peter Jackson and Alex Idoine both hit braces as Harborne came from 2-1 down to win 4-2 at Loughborough Town, keeping their two-point advantage over Barford Tigers, who won 2-0 at University of Birmingham 2s. Third-placed Harleston Magpies drew 2-2 at Cambridge City while Lichfield were impressive 4-0 winners at Bedford.

Conference North

The battle for the sole promotion spot remains a four-horse race after each of the top four picked up victories. Belper continue to lead the way following their 2-1 win over Leeds, with Timperley keeping themselves within a point thanks to a 3-1 success at Alderley Edge. Didsbury Northern and Doncaster picked up battling 1-0 wins on the road against Wakefield and Preston respectively while University of Durham 2s eased to a 5-2 win at Beeston 2s.

Conference West

Fareham are the new leaders as their 3-1 win at University of Exeter 2s was coupled with a surprise home defeat for University of Bristol, who went down 1-0 at home to Chichester courtesy of Oliver Baxter’s third-minute strike. Ashmoor would have ended the weekend top had they held on to a 3-0 lead at home to Clifton Robinsons but three goals in the final 13 minutes saw the spirited visitors come back to earn a point. Cardiff University and Cheltenham also played out a 3-3 draw and Isca won a hard-fought Devon derby 3-2 at Plymouth Marjon.