Bishop’s Stortford maintain 100% record in East Women’s Hockey League with 3-2 win at Norwich City
Katie Robinson was relieved to see Bishop’s Stortford hold on to win 3-2 at Norwich City in the East Women’s League, Premier Division on Saturday (November 4).
The captain hailed the performance of goalkeeper and player of the day Charlie Nash as the leaders maintained their 100% record.
But the table-toppers were made to work hard by their spirited seventh-placed opponents.
Gracie Cowan equalised from a training ground routine on the stroke of half time before Abbie Barrett and Lexi Guthrie netted to give them a two-goal cushion.
The hosts pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining and the visitors were pleased to hear the final whistle.
“The girls really dug deep to pull this one out of the bag,” said skipper Robinson.
“We were indebted to our player of the day, keeper Charlie Nash, for restricting our tough opponents to just a single goal in the first half when we were conceding possession far too easily and putting ourselves under the cosh.”
The second team’s best performance of the season was only worth a point as they drew 0-0 at Crostyx in Division 1S.
They were camped out in the hosts’ half for long periods and created plenty of chances, but they could not find a way past an inspired goalkeeper.
And when they thought they had taken a deserved lead, Fiona Mulder’s lifted shot was deemed not to have crossed the line before a defender cleared.
The third team were unlucky to finish empty-handed as they lost 2-1 at home to St Albans IV in 2SW.
They were unable to convert good pressure into goals in the first half, despite lots of good attacking play by the likes of player of the match Eryn Foote, and conceded from a set piece just before the interval.
Stortford drew level midway through the second period when Jen Pearce scored with a neat reverse-stick manoeuvre from Katy Motson’s short corner.
But the visitors retook the lead and the hosts saw a late effort whistle past the post.
In the same division, the fourth team suffered a 1-0 defeat at Hertford.
Lori Morrison made some fine saves before being beaten midway through the opening half.
Stortford produced some heroic defending to stay in contention and then picked up the pace in the last 10 minutes, but could not find an equaliser.
Hannah Reynolds was named player of the match in the fifth team’s 2-0 loss at Berkhamsted & Hemel Hempstead II in 4SW.
The goalkeeper made a number of good saves as the visitors, who had player availability issues, put in a real shift.
Grace McKelvey bagged a brace as the sixth team recorded a 2-1 home success against Old Southendian III in 4SE.
They were thwarted by the goalkeeper on several occasions as they dominated the first half.
McKelvey broke the deadlock from a short corner before their opponents levelled matters from a set piece of their own.
But it was Stortford’s day as McKelvey netted from another short corner and their defence, including player of the match Gemma Leach, held firm.
Emma Cox scored five times as the seventh team thrashed St Albans VI 7-1 at home in 5SW.
She was joined on the score sheet by Kaitlin Range and Mary Sanders while goalkeeper Lis Foote’s heroics between the sticks earned her the player-of-the-match award.
The eighth team lost 3-0 at home to St Albans VIII in 6SW while the ninth team (development) suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Berkhamsted & Hemel Hempstead IV in 7SW.
