Surbiton Strengthen Grip On Top 6 As Beeston Stage Comeback To Stun Clifton

Photo credit: Peter Smith (@smifsports)

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Surbiton strengthened their position in the ‘Top 6’ of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division as they ended Wimbledon’s winning streak and claimed derby bragging rights with a 1-0 win. 

Wimbledon went into the contest on the back of five consecutive wins but Steph Elliott’s effort from a penalty corner in the 67th minute proved enough for Surbiton to prevail. 

That victory means Surbiton possess the lead of the division on their own but only by a point after East Grinstead maintained pressure with a 3-0 win over Hampstead & Westminster. 

Sophie Bray opened the scoring with a field goal in the 21st minute before Robyn Bentley doubled the home side’s advantage on 35 minutes with another strike from open play. 

The result was then put beyond doubt on 51 minutes when Jo Westwood completed the scoring from a penalty corner, ensuring East Grinstead remain within striking distance of Surbiton. 

Meanwhile, Beeston produced a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Clifton Robinsons 3-2 in the battle between fifth and sixth in the ‘Top 6’ table. 

Goals from Catherine Macaulay and Phoebe Richards put the hosts in a commanding position after 28 minutes before Cerys Miller struck back to reduce the deficit. 

Skipper Lauren Burrell then converted from a penalty corner on 38 minutes to level the scores before Hannah Grieve capped off the fightback with the winning goal six minutes later. 

Elsewhere, the day’s only game in the bottom tier of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division - due to Buckingham and Swansea being in European indoor action - produced high-scoring drama as Holcombe defeated Loughborough Students 5-2. 

Tania Escaich stole the headlines with all five of Holcombe’s goals, putting her team 2-0 up inside the opening ten minutes with a strike from a penalty corner and an effort from open play. 

Loughborough responded with two goals of their own as Alice Rolfe and Ellie MacKenzie were both on target, only for Escaich to complete her hat-trick on 57 minutes. 

Another two goals for Escaich put Holcombe out of sight as they claimed an important win which moves them above the university-based side and just one point behind University of Birmingham. 

Division One North 

University of Nottingham remain the frontrunners for promotion from Division One North after seeing off Belper 6-1 thanks to braces from Maddie Axford and Mollie Mason. Second-placed Bowdon Hightown are still breathing down their neck, however, just one point behind the leaders thanks to their entertaining 3-2 win over Stourport. That defeat for Stourport sees them slip from third to fourth, level on points with Durham University, who edged out Gloucester City 2-1. Leicester City made it five wins from six as they emerged victorious away to Brooklands Poynton, winning the mid-table battle 1-0, while Ben Rhydding moved further away from the bottom with a 3-0 win over Olton & West Warwickshire. 

Division One South 

Trojans were unable to register their third straight victory as they slipped to a 5-2 defeat to Surbiton 2s, with Mera Cookman scoring twice for the home side. Trojans’ bid for survival was not helped by fellow strugglers Harleston Magpies claiming a valuable 0-0 draw at home to Cambridge City. At the other end of the table, Sevenoaks maintained their place at the summit with a 2-1 win over third-placed Slough while Reading were in clinical form against fourth-placed Canterbury as they prevailed 5-1. That result keeps Reading in the promotion hunt, just two points behind Sevenoaks, while the game between Isca and Wimbledon was called off. 

Conference East 

A goal from Bella da Rocha proved enough for league leaders Barnes to register their 11th win from 12 games as they saw off Horsham. The result of the day was delivered by their nearest rivals, though, with Southgate romping to a 9-0 win against Canterbury 2s to significantly improve their goal difference. While Southgate remain seven points behind the frontrunners, fellow chasers London Wayfarers lost further ground with a shock 2-0 defeat to second-from-bottom Bromley & Beckenham. Meanwhile, Chelmsford defeated East London 4-2 and Ipswich got the better of fourth-placed Hampstead & Westminster, winning 2-1 to move further away from the bottom. 

Conference Midlands 

Sutton Coldfield extended their unbeaten run in the Conference Midlands to 12 games with 3-1 win at Broxbourne, who remain second from bottom. Sutton’s lead is now eight points after second-placed Bedford were held to a 2-2 draw by Beeston 2s, while fellow promotion chasers St Albans were also left frustrated after drawing 1-1 with Cannock after falling behind to an early goal. But arguably the biggest result of the day in the division came at the other end of the table, where Khalsa Leamington overcame Oxford University 3-2 as they got back to winning ways. Elsewhere, University of Birmingham drew level on points with Loughborough Students after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win.  

Conference North 

Durham University 2s frustrated Conference North league leaders Leeds, with the third-placed outfit holding their rivals to a 0-0 draw, but second-placed Wakefield were unable to take advantage of their chance to close the gap as their game away at Fylde was called off. Neston continue to look up the table, making it three wins on the bounce after overcoming Doncaster 4-2 to jump to eighth in the standings. The two teams now below them, Alderley Edge and Pendle Forest, had their match called off while Didsbury Northern closed the gap to fourth-placed Timperley with a 3-2 victory as they bounced back from defeat to Leeds last weekend. 

Conference West 

Exe defeated second-placed Oxford Hawks 4-3 to move level on points with their promotion rivals in the Conference West standings. Witney continue to lead the way in the division but they were unable to take full advantage of Hawks’ slip-up as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Team Bath Buccs, leading twice during the game only to be pegged back each time. Bristol Firebrands were only able to draw 1-1 with Basingstoke while Cheltenham were emphatic winners against University of Bristol, prevailing 5-1 against the division’s bottom side. The day’s other game saw Penarth increase the gap to second bottom Clifton Robinsons 2s with a 4-2 win.