Bishop’s Stortford II beat Sudbury 4-1 to secure second East Women’s Hockey League victory of the season

Bishop’s Stortford II beat Sudbury 4-1 at home to secure their second East Women’s League, Division 1S victory of the season.

They fell behind midway through the first half, but Nicky Bareham levelled matters just before the break from a penalty corner.

Bareham netted again from a set-piece after the restart to put the hosts ahead.

Suzanne Holmes extended the lead as their well-worked corner routines proved decisive, with a goal by Zoe Bovaird from open play sealing the points.

There was also a 4-1 success for the first team at Cambridge City III as they went top of the Premier Division.

Lexie Guthrie and Gracie Cowan both scored inside the opening six minutes to give the visitors a dream start on what has proved a tricky pitch for them to get results in the past.

Cowan completed her brace after a great pass from Liv Smerdon before Molly Brooks slotted home from a corner.

Ibby Welldon made some great saves before the hosts did muster a consolation.

The third team showed plenty of determination in a 3-0 home defeat to table-topping Broxbourne II in 2SW.

The side, which included a number of new faces, worked hard throughout and created some promising chances.

In 3SW, the fourth team lost 2-0 at Letchworth II while the fifth team held Hertford II 1-1 at home.

The sixth team gave a good account of themselves in a 5-1 defeat at Old Loughtonians III in 3SE.

Vivienne Saunders got their goal, goalkeeper Linda Rowley performed well and Millie Berret and Martha Trist shared the player-of-the-match award for their outstanding defensive efforts.

Lianne Warnell claimed a consolation goal as the seventh team suffered a 4-1 defeat at Rickmansworth II in 5SW.

Mia Beverley’s brace was added to by Ava O’Neill in the eighth team’s 3-3 home draw with Hertford IV in 6SW.

The ninth team drew 1-1 at home to Berkhamsted & Hemel Hempstead IV in 7SW.

In the same division, the 10th (development) team ended Potters Bar’s two-year unbeaten home run with a 3-1 victory.

Sophia Vasey struck twice and teed up Louise Gelder to score in what was the visitors’ best performance of the season so far.

In the East Men’s League, the first team drew 2-2 at home to Dereham in the Premier Division.

In 2SW, the second team lost 6-1 at St Albans III and the third team suffered a 5-1 home defeat to Letchworth II.

The fourth team went down 3-2 at St Albans V in 4SW, but two goals from James Nash and one apiece for Will Fox and Colin Sharp led the fifth team to a 4-0 home success over Letchworth IV in 5SW.

Richard Turner, Freddie Taylor and Tim Smith were on the score sheet as the sixth team beat visitors St Albans VIII 3-2 in 6SW.

And Henry Lowe equalised to earn the seventh (development) team a 1-1 draw at St Albans IX in 7SW.