Abbie Barrett scores four goals as Bishop’s Stortford begin East Women’s Hockey League season with 6-0 win over Norwich Dragons

Abbie Barrett fired in four goals as Bishop’s Stortford began the East Women’s League, Premier Division campaign with a 6-0 home win over Norwich Dragons.

The hotshot, who had a hat-trick by half time, was joined on the score sheet by Sally Powell and Minky Carr while goalkeeper Ali Martyn made some great saves to preserve the clean sheet.

It was the team’s first game under new coach Simon Shorter. He enjoyed a successful playing career at national level and has gained promotion five times as a coach with the likes of Bedford, Bourne Deeping and City of Peterborough.

Gracie Cowan claimed two goals and an assist as the second team drew 3-3 at Colchester in Division 1S.

She struck two equalisers as the sides went in level at the break before a fine run and pass enabled Fiona Mulder to put the visitors ahead.

Stortford worked hard to preserve their lead, with Charlie Leonard producing a player-of-the-match display, but the hosts grabbed a point.

Lydia Taylor’s 49th-minute effort earned the third team a 1-0 away success over Berkhamsted & Hemel Hempstead in 2SW.

She expertly deflected the ball into the goal from player-of-the-match Pippa Bull’s pinpoint cross while Freya Rich made some crucial saves to secure the win.

There was a huge 12-1 triumph for the fourth team over Rickmansworth in 3SW.

In the same division, the fifth team worked hard without a goalkeeper as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Letchworth II.

They dominated large periods of play and went ahead through Jemima Tasker, but they were unable to keep out the hosts.

Karen Leach claimed a consolation as the sixth team lost 3-1 at home to Brentwood II in 3SE while Nula Boston was named player of the match in the seventh team’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Letchworth III in 5SW.

Megan Laws struck twice and Esme Woods also scored when the eighth team lost 6-3 at their St Albans counterparts in 6SW.

The ninth team, who included new juniors and Back to Hockey players in their ranks, suffered a 6-0 defeat at Potters Bar in 7SW.

But, in the same division, there was better fortune for the newly-formed tenth (development) team as they registered a 6-2 home success over Chiltern II.

Sophia Vasey and Lianne Warnell both bagged braces while Tabitha Smith and Issy Cullinan also netted.

In the East Men’s League, Rich Heywood scored a brilliant individual goal in the first team’s 3-1 Premier Division defeat at Ipswich.

The second team beat St Albans IV 3-0 in 2SW and, in the same division, the third team lost 4-0 to St Albans’ third string.

There was a 5-2 win for the fourth team over Blueharts V in 4SW while Richard Temple added to James Nash’s brace as the fifth team lost 6-3 to Blueharts VI in 5SW.

Adrian Smith got the winner as the sixth team beat Harpenden IV in 6SW and the seventh (development) team were beaten 2-1 by Broxbourne IV in 7SW.