Review of Week Seven of the England Hockey League

Brooklands MU stay top of Mens Division One North but were made to work hard for a 4-3 win against Stourport who are bottom and without a point. Si Claris twice put Stourport in front but Brooklands Nick Hale scored with four minutes to go to win the game. Loughborough Students are in second with an inferior goal difference. They also didn’t find it easy going at Deeside Ramblers where the evergreen Ghazanfar Ali scored twice to level things up a 2-2. It stayed that way until the last seven minutes when the Students struck twice, including a second for Montgomery Neave to win it 4-2. Nottingham University are up to third after a 1-0 win at Harborne. Olotn & West Warwicks and Durham University drew 2-2 whilst Lindum remain second bottom after their 3-1 reverse at Birmingham University.

There was a surprise at the top of Division One South where Reading lost their 100% record to struggling Old Loughtonians. Conor Caplan gave Loughts an early lead that Oliver MacIntyre doubled in the last minute of the game. Indian Gymkhana took full advantage to close the gap to a point with a hard fought 3-1 win at Bristol University. Teddington and Sevenoaks cancelled each other out in a 4-4 draw that saw a hat-trick for Sevenoaks Joe Naughalty and a last minute equaliser from Teddington’s Ciaran O’Connell. Team Bath Buccaneers took the honours in the West Country derby at Exeter University winning 1-0 and Havant added to bottom of the table Canterbury’s woes with a 3-1 win.

Cameron Lewis hit a hat-trick for unbeaten Conference North leaders Timperley in a 5-0 win at Sheffield and more good news for the Cheshire side was a 4-1 loss at Leeds for Doncaster, who had also enjoyed a 100% record up until the weekend. Leeds are third and Oxton move up to fourth after a 3-2 win over bottom of the table Wakefield. Durham University 2s and Brooklands MU 2s won away at Didsbury Northern, 3-2 and Ben Rhydding, 2-1 respectively.

Spencer lost the leadership of Conference East and their unbeaten start in spectacular fashion going down 5-1 at home to Surbiton 2s for whom Ben Hanson netted a hat-trick. This allowed London Wayfarers, 2-0 winners over Hampstead & Westminster 2s to go top. Juan Martin Gomez Sanchez scored both Bromley & Beckenham’s goals in a 2-1 defeat of West Herts. Old Cranleighan climbed up the table thanks to a 4-2 win at Wimbledon 2s and draw specialists Tunbridge Wells picked up another point in a 3-3 draw with Brighton and Hove, their fourth draw in six games.

Promoted Chelmsford remain top of Conference Midlands thanks to a 2-1 win against Barford Tigers. Repton remain unbeaten, three points back, after a similar result at Birmingham University 2s. Two Chris Wardale goals saw Norwich City beat Cambridge City 2-0 and leave the latter bottom of the table. Trailling 3-0 with 20 minutes to go, a late fightback wasn’t enough for Banbury who went down 3-2 to Nottingham University 2s. St Albans won 3-0 at Harleston Magpies.

William Tristem scored three for Conference West leaders Guildford in a 4-2 win over Chichester. Clifton Robinsons stay level on points matching them with six wins out of six in beating Reading 2s 4-0. These two have opened up an eight point lead over Fareham in third who lost 3-2 at Oxford Hawks. Jonathan Wright scored all of Isca’s goals in a 3-0 win at Team Bath Buccaneers 2s whilst Exeter University 2s beat Ashmoor 3-2.

Division One South leaders Barnes saw their 100% record ended in a 3-1 defeat at Exeter University. Lucy Day scored all three goals for Exeter and the result means they now trail Barnes in second place by just two points. Surbiton 2s stay third thanks to a 3-0 win over bottom of the table Bristol Firebrands and it was a similar scoreline at Guildford in their defeat of visitors Harleston Magpies. Sevenoaks’ Emily Barrett scored twice in her side’s 2-2 draw at Slough, the point was enough to lift the home side out of the relegation places, replaced by Wimbledon 2s who went down 2-1 at home to Southgate.

Durham University extended their perfect start in Division One North with a 4-2 win at Olton & West Warwicks. They are three points clear of Buckingham who won 3-0 at Repton. Bottom the table Leicester returned home empty handed from Ben Rhydding after a 3-0 loss. Gloucester City picked up their second victory of the season with a 5-3 defeat of Wakefield who now replace them in ninth. The Beeston – Pendle Forest game was postponed due to a medical issue.

Leeds go two points clear at the top of Conference North. They beat Doncaster 3-1 in a Yorkshire derby under lights. Jeorgia Carr and Tilly Irvine both scored twice in Bowdon 2s 4-3 win at Alderley Edge that puts them second. The Didsbury Northern – Durham University 2s and Whitley Bay & Tynemouth – Newcastle University games both ended all square at 1-1 whilst Fylde went nap in a 5-0 defeat of bottom of the table Harrogate.

Loughborough Students 2s retained their three point lead in Conference Midlands after a comfortable 4-2 defeat of Cambridge City. Stourport in second are looking to bounce back after relegation last season and beat Cannock 5-2 with Sophie Thomspon hitting a hat-trick. Cambridge University go above their city rivals into third after a 3-0 win over Oxford Hawks. Bedford stay bottom after a 3-1 defeat at Birmingham University 2s, Beeston 2s stay ninth but took a point from the visit of St Albans in a 2-2 draw.

A solitary Sammy Petch strike with four minutes left on the clock gave Reading a win in the 2nd team battle with previously unbeaten Clifton Robinsons to keep them three points to the good in Conference West. Trojans, in second, won 2-0 at Cheltenham. Two Cerys King goals helped Team Bath Buccaneers to a 3-0 win over Swansea and go above the Welsh team in the process. Marlow beat Witney 1-0 and bottom of the table Exeter picked up their first point in a 2-2 draw at Lansdown, being denied all three by Emma Howitt’s second with three minutes to go.

London Wayfarers lost their 100% record in Conference East, Bente Eggink scoring twice for Hampstead & Westminster 2s who beat them 3-1. Teddington however maintained their perfect start beating Sevenoaks 3-1 to go three points clear. Spencer stay third after a 4-2 win over Old Loughtonians. Canterbury moved off the foot of the table thanks to a 2-0 defeat of Wapping. Old Georgians won 3-1 at East London.