Celebrations as Bedford hockey returns to National League

With three matches still to play, Bedford’s Ladies’ First XI are already guaranteed promotion, following a 5-2 victory over Cambridge City at the weekend.

Whilst it was Cambridge who opened the scoring, in Saturday’s fixture, three subsequent penalty corner conversions saw Bedford ahead at half-time, Bedford’s goals coming from Rachel Mason, Ellie Scott and Emma Pinny.

Early in the third quarter, Ellie Scott notched up her second, with a goal from open play, before top goalscorer in the Division, and player-coach for the team, Kate Costin, took her season’s tally, so far, to 25, after stepping up to take a penalty stroke.

Whilst Cambridge snatched a second goal, with just minutes to play, it was celebrations for Bedford as the final whistle blew.

The team has a home fixture this coming Saturday (7th March), with a 2pm push-back against third in the table Bishop’s Stortford. Spectators are always welcome at the Chester Road ground.

It was a thrilling match for the home crowd to watch, when the Men’s First Team stepped out on pitch to take on Cambridge South.

The scores remained nil, nil going into the second quarter, but it was Cambridge who were first to find the back of the net, through a converted penalty corner.

Just 5 minutes later, Cambridge doubled their lead, from another penalty corner.

Going forward to the second half of the match, Bedford staged a comeback, a goal by Finn Lever from open play, followed by one by Jack Bellamy, drawing the scores even.

Cambridge took the lead, again, on the 60th minute, converting another penalty corner, before Dave Appleton levelled the scores, once more, from a penalty corner to Bedford.

Just as it looked as though the match would end in a draw, in the final minute, Cambridge were awarded yet another penalty corner, finding the back of the net to take the win.

The squad travel away to Cambridge University’s First XI this coming Saturday.

Across the club’s other teams, there was a 2-1 loss for the Ladies’ Second XI, against Blueharts and an agonising 6-0 loss for the Men’s Second Team, against Luton.

The Ladies’ Third XI had a double header, with a 3-all draw on Saturday against Luton, two goals from Cheryll Wilson and one by Tilly Sheldon, and a 3-1 win on Sunday, away to Blueharts. The Men’s Thirds, meanwhile, secured an excellent 4-2 win over Welwyn Garden City on Saturday.

There was just one consolation goal, by Emma Cook, for the Ladies’ Fourth Team, going 5-1 down to Blueharts, and a draw for the men, away to Rickmansworth, goals by Elliot Potter and Adam O’Neill.

The Ladies’ Fifth XI fell 2-0 down away to Letchworth, but there was a win for the top of the table men. Goals from James Logan, Tony Gammon, Harry Bowden and Keith Sohl gave them the points over Potters Bar.

Despite many presses into the attacking D, by the Ladies’ Sixes against Blueharts, only one, struck by Manpriya Sira, found the target, in the closing minutes of the match. Blueharts, meanwhile, netted 4. It was, also, a 4-1 loss for the men, away to Welwyn Garden City.

There was a bye weekend for the Ladies’ Seventh Team and a walk-over for the men, after their opponents were unable to field a team. Both will be back in action this coming weekend.