Mixed results on a busy weekend for Bedford Hockey Club
It was another mixed bag of results for Bedford Hockey Club’s 14 adult squads at the weekend.
Whilst the Ladies’ First Team gained points from a 2-2 draw, away to Bishop’s Stortford, with goals from Ellie Scott and Esmée Challacombe, they slip to second in the table, after Cambridge City took top spot from a win in their fixture. Cambridge’s current one point lead over Bedford is slightly skewed, however, Bedford having a game in hand.
There is hope of points, and possibly many goals, this coming Saturday, when eleventh place Dereham travel to Chester Road.
After a successful run by the Men’s First Team over recent weeks, they were hit by a 4-0 loss against Cambridge University’s First XI. Next Saturday, they travel away to Cambridge City.
It was a win for the Ladies’ Second Team, over bottom of the table Colchester, Bedford opening the scoring 23 minutes into the game, with Cheryll Wilson finding the back of the net from a Penalty Corner. Two further goals came in the 50th and 60th minutes, both from open play, one by Harriet Potter and the other, Cali-Ann Shrives, 3-0 to Bedford.
The Men’s Seconds, meanwhile, continue to struggle to find form, going 2-1 down to Harpenden., Alex Sawyer getting the consolation goal on the 60th minute. They face a tough fixture this weekend when they take on second place Upminster.
There was a loss, too, for the Ladies’ Third Team, 2-1 away to Stevenage. The score had remained 0-0 at half-time, but Stevenage opened the scoring at the start of the second half. A goal by Bedford’s Georgina Turtle in the 44th minute brought the equaliser, only for Stevenage to snatch the lead again with 10 minutes to go.
It was a solid 4-1 win for the Men’s Third Team over Shefford & Sandy, thanks to a hat-trick from Lee Hoggett and a further goal from Alex Turner, giving Bedford some much-needed points.
The Ladies’ Fourth Team suffered a stinging loss. Goals by Cheryl Harding and Alice Brady-White were unable to match the 7 scored by Hertford’s First XI. The Players’ Player award went to Bedford’s keeper, Megan Evans, for her gallant endeavours in goal.
It was a loss, too, for the Men’s Fourth Team, Bedford fighting back from 3-0 down to 3-2, with goals from Kieran Farrer and Harry Midgley, before the Broxbourne opposition bagged a fourth for the win.
The Ladies’ Fifth Team were unlucky to go 1-0 down against Stevenage, a scoreline that remained through to the final whistle, whilst the men celebrated a 3-0 victory over Rickmansworth, goals from the sticks of Tony Gammon, James Pagliaro and Elliot Potter.
Charlotte Goodson opened the scoring for the Ladies’ Sixes, 3 minutes into their match, Letchworth bringing the scores level 10 minutes later. Charlotte bagged a second on the 21st minute, only for Letchworth to level the scores again on the 30th minute, 2-2 the final score.
It was a 4-1 loss for the Men’s Sixes, against Harpenden, Bedford’s goal coming from Andrew Moore.
Both club’s Seventh Teams walked away with wins. Isla Maclaren opened the scoring for the ladies, 10 minutes into their match against Welwyn Garden City, further goals coming from Cheri West, her first for the club in only her second match since taking up the sport, and Steph Daniels, with Welwyn failing to score.
The men enjoyed an 8-0 victory over Luton Town’s Second XI. A hat-trick from Keith Waterhouse, in the first half of the match, started the goals flowing. Jonathan Chard opened the second half by getting his name on the scorecard, before Keith added a fourth to his tally, and then Jonathan a second to his. Not wanting to miss out on the action, Zameer Safdar found the back of the net before Keith closed his account, on the final whistle, with a fifth.