Review of week three of the England Hockey League

After three games Barnes are the only team with three wins in Womens Division One South. Their latest was a 5-0 demolition of promoted Guildford with captain Aleesa Ferguson leading the way with two of their goals. Exeter University lost their 100% record in a 1-1 draw at Slough, the home team’s first point of the season. Sevenoaks are a point behind Exeter after a 6-1 defeat of Bristol Firebrands, McKenzie Bell and Sophie Maunder both scoring twice. Surbiton 2s came from two down to draw 2-2 with Wimbledon 2s. The Southgate – Harleston Magpies game also ended level, 1-1 with both goals coming in the first three minutes.

Durham University are top of Division One North and they made it three wins from three with a 2-0 defeat of Repton, Evelyn Wilson and Jess Gilbert scoring their goals. Buckingham and Olton had 100% records going into Saturday’s game which Buckingham retained thanks to a 3-0 win. Jo Day, Lauren Thomas & Lottie Porter all scored inside 25 minutes to settle matters early on. It was the same scoreline at Gloucester City where Beeston inflicted defeat on the home side for their first win of the season and leave Gloucester bottom. Two Charlotte Hartley goals helped Pendle Forest edge out Leicester 4-3 for their first win and Ben Rhydding did likewise in beating Wakefield 2-0.

Lorna Bennell scored the only goal of the game to see Reading beat Marlow and stay top of Conference West with maximum points from three games. Lansdown dropped points for the first time in a 0-0 draw against Clifton Robinsons 2. Amy Sheehan hit a hat-trick for Trojans, 5-2 winners at Swansea. Witney and Exeter have both still yet to get off the mark losing to Cheltenham 2-0 and Team Bath Buccaneers 3-1 respectively.

Having narrowly avoided relegation last season Bowdon 2s have made a great start to Conference North this time round and lead the way with a 100% record. A 2-0 home win over Whitley Bay & Tynemouth ended the visitors’ unbeaten start to the season. At the other end of the table Doncaster earned their first points with a 1-0 win at Harrogate who are now the only side without a point. Elsewhere it was all draws. Fylde – Newcastle University, 3-3, Leeds – Durham University 2s 1-1 and Alderley Edge – Didsbury Northern 2-2.

Isobel Chaudhry scored with two minutes left on the clock to give London Wayfarers a 3-2 win against Old Georgians and see them remain top of the Conference East table with three wins out of three. Teddington trail them on goal difference after their 2-1 win at Wapping. Hannah Griggs and Maddie Cleat both scored twice in Spencer’s 5-1 defeat of East London and Hampstead & Westminster 2s also enjoyed a comfortable win, 4-0 at Sevenoaks 2s, Jasmine Clark scoring two. Canterbury picked up their first point in a 1-1 draw at Old Loughtonians.

Cambridge City lost their 100% record in Conference Midlands going down 3-1 to Birmingham University 2s for whom Katie Clyne scored twice. Loughborough Students 2s take over at the top after a 5-1 win at Cambridge University. Stourport are level on seven points with Loughborough thanks to their 2-0 defeat of Beeston 2s, Bryony Gillgrass twice on target. Rachel Drayton-Chana was another double scorer for Cannock, whose 4-2 win against Bedford earned them their first points of the season. Oxford Hawks and St Albans played out a 1-1 draw.

Deeside Ramblers fine start in Mens Division One North continued with a 3-2 defeat of Harborne. Two more goals for Ghazanfar Ali helped them maintain their 100 % start. Brooklands MU are two points back after a 5-0 win at Durham University with Nick Hale scoring twice. Loughborough Students are behind Brooklands on goal difference. They won Friday’s rearranged game at Nottingham University 2-0 but were held to a 3-3 draw by Lindum on Sunday. That was promoted Lindum’s first point but the other newcomers, Stourport, remain pointless after a 3-1 loss at Birmingham University, captain Alfie Weaver’s two second half goals proving the difference. Nottingham bounced back from Friday’s loss to win 4-1 at Olton, Luis Cuttle netting twice for the students.

Division One South leaders Reading stay on top after a 6-3 win over Sevenoaks, their third successive win. They are two points ahead of Indian Gymkhana who overcame local rivals Teddington 4-2. Havant who drew 3-3 at Old Loughtonians and Team Bath Buccaneers who won 4-1 at local rivals Bristol University also remain unbeaten. Bristol are bottom without a point and Canterbury sit one point above them after a 4-1 home loss to Exeter University, for whom Jake Bennett netted a hat-trick.

Wimbledon 2s are top of Conference East. They made it three wins out of three in defeating Surbiton 2s 4-1 on Sunday, although there was revenge for Surbiton in the Euro battle between their 1st teams later in the day. Elsewhere saw three 2-1 away wins. Two Neil Hamilton corners saw Spencer win at London Wayfarers to go second. West Herts win at Brighton & Hove saw their first points of the campaign and Hampstead & Westminster 2s won at Old Cranleighans. Tunbridge Wells 3-2 defeat of Bromley & Beckenham was their first EHL win.

St Albans are top of Conference Midlands after a convincing 5-2 win over Banbury. They lead Birmingham University 2s and Chelmsford by a point. Birmingham beat Cambridge City 3-1 whilst Chelmsford were involved in a nine goal thriller with Nottingham University 2s. The team shared six goals in an 11 minute spell either side of half time including three for Jack Jones before a 70th minute Jason Doherty-Bigara goal for the home side secured a 5-4 win. Repton also scored five, with Richard Lawrence slotting home a PC treble in a 5-3 win at Barford Tigers. Harleston Magpies came out on top, 4-2, in a feisty derby with Norwich City.

Doncaster and Timperley are level on nine points at the top of Conference North. Doncaster have a superior goal difference helped by a 5-1 win at Oxton who lost their 100% record in the process. Timperley beat Leeds 4-2 with Connor Miller scoring twice. Brooklands MU 2s emulated their 1st team with a win at Durham University 2s but by a narrower, 1-0, scoreline. Didsbury Northern got their first points on the board with a fine 4-1 win at Sheffield and Ben Rhydding did likewise in a 1-0 defeat of Wakefield.

Guildford have made a good start to Conference West life and beat Exeter University 2s 9-1 with a hat-trick for William Tristem. Clifton Robinsons are three points back after their game at Ashmoor was abandoned due to a flooded pitch. Fareham and Oxford Hawks picked up their second wins, both on the road, 2-1 at Reading and 4-2 at Isca respectively. Will Leleu was another hat trick hero scoring three corners for Chichester in a 5-0 defeat of Team Bath Buccaneers 2s.