Bishop’s Stortford suffer damaging 3-0 defeat to Harleston Magpies II in East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division

Bishop’s Stortford first team’s promotion hopes appear to be over after they lost 3-0 at East Women’s Hockey League, Premier Division leaders Harleston Magpies II on Saturday (March 8).

They are now six points behind their table-topping opponents with just three games remaining.

Goalkeeper Ibby Welldon made some fine saves and Lexie Guthrie produced a spectacular goal-line clearance, but they trailed by a goal at the break.

They improved after the restart and created numerous chances, but the clinical hosts netted two more goals.

Welldon and Guthrie shared the player-of-the-match award.

The second team suffered a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Chelmsford in Division 1S.

Player-of-the-match Sophie Higgins was excellent at the back, but they were unable to carve out any real clear-cut chances.

Zoe Barford got a consolation goal for the third team as they lost 5-1 at home to Hertford in 2SW.

There was better fortune for the fourth team as they registered a 2-1 success at Welwyn Garden City II in 3SW.

Yolande Notley and Scout Neville got the goals while player-of-the-match Eliza Andrews put in a solid defensive performance.

In the same division, goals from Jemima Tasker and Kate Cullinan could not prevent the fifth team succumbing 6-2 at home to Luton Town.

The sixth team found some positives to take from their 4-0 defeat at Maldon II in 3SE.

They had shots on target and won short corners while Lexi Baird got the nod for player of the match.

Emma Cox scored six goals to guide the seventh team to a commanding 7-0 win at Harpenden III in 5SW.

Her double hat-trick was added to by Nyla Smith while Chloe Allmark was named player of the match.

Goalkeeper Elsie Lowe also made some good saves on her debut.

Ava O’Neill, Emily Osborne-Worcester and Esmee Woods all netted and Tory Foot took the player-of-the-match plaudits when the eighth team beat Broxbourne V 3-1 at home in 6SW.

The ninth team beat Saffron Walden VI 3-1 in 7SW and, in the same division, the 10th team (development) drew 2-2 with Welwyn Garden City IV.

In the East Men’s League, there was a 1-0 home victory for the first team against Upminster in the Premier Division.

The second team lost 4-2 at Shefford & Sandy in 2SW and, in the same division, the third team suffered an 8-1 home defeat against Bedford II.

The fourth team lost 2-0 at Letchworth III in 4SW, the fifth team went down 5-4 at home to St Albans VI in 5SW and the sixth team suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Shefford & Sandy III in 6SW.