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Gracie Cowan wraps up 3-1 home win for Bishop’s Stortford over Bury St Edmunds in East Women’s Hockey League




Gracie Cowan wrapped up a 3-1 home win for Bishop’s Stortford over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s League, Premier Division.

The hosts started the game well and went ahead inside the opening 10 minutes as Sally Powell slotted in after Louisa Davies had torn the defence apart.

Pilar Montu doubled the advantage, but the Stortford then sat back and needed Ali Martyn to smother the play as they soaked up pressure.

Action from Bishop's Stortford first team's 3-1 home win over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division. Picture: Kenny McLeish
Action from Bishop's Stortford first team's 3-1 home win over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division. Picture: Kenny McLeish

The away side reduced the deficit from a short corner after the interval, punishing the hosts for not capitalising on a strong start to the second period.

But Stortford, who are second in the table, one point behind leaders Ipswich, dug in and sealed the victory when Katherine Langridge deflected a ball that had been smashed into the D and Cowan converted.

The second team saw a two-goal advantage slip away as they lost 3-2 at Blueharts in Division 1S.

Action from Bishop's Stortford first team's 3-1 home win over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division. Picture: Kenny McLeish
Action from Bishop's Stortford first team's 3-1 home win over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division. Picture: Kenny McLeish

Excellent defending from player-of-the-match Grace Grindrod and some crucial saves by Ibby Welldon ensured it was all square at half time.

Stortford took the lead after the interval when Emma Hynds found the bottom corner from a set-piece.

Fiona Mulder put them further ahead when she controlled Eryn Foote’s long ball and, after taking two touches, unleashed a powerful strike past the goalkeeper.

But Stortford failed to maintain the momentum and their opponents netted twice to draw level before winning it from a late short corner.

Action from Bishop's Stortford first team's 3-1 home win over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division. Picture: Kenny McLeish
Action from Bishop's Stortford first team's 3-1 home win over Bury St Edmunds in the East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division. Picture: Kenny McLeish

Zoe Bovaird grabbed an equaliser as the third team secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Welwyn Garden City in 2SW.

The visitors, who started with 10 players as some squad members were late arriving from a school match, fell behind midway through the first half.

The leveller came after the break when Bovaird rounded off some nice play around the D with a perfectly-timed shot.

The fourth team received a 5-0 home walkover against Royston in 3SW as their opponents conceded.

In the same division, Nadia El-Zanfaley’s goal proved to be a consolation as the fifth team lost 2-1 at Blueharts III.

She put the visitors in front after 22 minutes and goalkeeper Sarah Bucknall made a handful of saves to preserve the lead going into half time.

But the hosts equalised two minutes after the restart and netted again on the counter-attack to take maximum points.

Captain Jo Newman and Lea Gillespie shared the player-of-the-match spoils.

Kate Cullinan and Karen Jones were on target as the sixth team fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Southend & Benfleet II in 3SE.

Player-of-the-match Scout Neville bagged a brace as the seventh team beat Blueharts V 2-1 to claim their first 5SW victory of the season.

She capitalised on a spilled ball in the defence to make the breakthrough in the 23rd minute.

Blueharts levelled matters midway through the second period, but Neville found the backboard with a short-corner strike in the closing stages to earn the hosts their first three points.

Mia Beverley netted twice to help the eighth team triumph 4-0 at Blueharts VII in 6SW.

She made it 3-0 at half time after Ava O’Neill had fired the visitors into a 20th-minute lead.

And Emily Osborne-Worcester, who was named joint player of the match alongside Beverley, completed the win with a goal midway through the second period.

The ninth team were on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline at Letchworth V in 7SW.

In the East Men’s League, the first team recorded an impressive 4-2 Premier Division win at City of Peterborough.

Alex Bruce Smith, Rich Heywood, Craig Smith and Tom Frenzel all scored against the hosts who have come down from the national league and were top going into the fixture.

Goals from Tom Nash and player-of-the-match Aaron Watts earned the second team a 2-0 home victory over Bedford III in 2SW.

Hat-tricks from James Nash and Tunde Adewalw a goal apiece for Mike McLeish, Will Fox and William Smith guided the fifth team to a 9-3 triumph at Southgate Adelaide II in 5SW.

Adrian Smith was named player of the match as the sixth team lost 7-0 at 6SW leaders Bedford VI.



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