Investec Women’s Hockey League Championship Final
Surbiton 0 (0)
Canterbury 0 (0)
Surbiton win 3-1 on shootout
Abi Walker was the hero for Surbiton, pulling off a series of splendid saves in the shootout to bring the trophy back to Sugden Road for a third successive year. The former Great Britain stopper saved three times in the pressure cooker of the shootout to add to a stunning block she made in the closing moments in order to take the game into the shootout. It was perhaps tough on Canterbury who arguably had the better of the game, but Brett Garrard’s invincibles were not to be denied.
The game was largely cat and mouse with chances at a premium. Hollie Webb was outstanding at the back for Surbiton, whilst Susie Rowe was seemingly everywhere for Canterbury. The big chances seemed to fall Canterbury’s way but Walker stood firm to deny them and take the game into the shootout.
Naomi Evans stepped up first for Brett Garrard’s team but Fagg did well to keep the ball out. Line Malan went first for Canterbury however Walker swept the ball clear. Fagg did well to keep out Sarah Haycroft next and then Walker returned fire with a save from Sarah Kerly. Finally, with the fifth effort in the shootout Abi Robinson found the net, spinning and calmly slotting home. Walker saved from Chamberlain and then Georgie Twigg netted hers to put Surbiton on the brink. Susie Rowe fired home from near the edge of the circle to keep Canterbury in it, but Hollie Webb’s calm finish settled things, taking the trophy to Surbiton once again.
Investec Women’s Hockey League Promotion Playoffs
Sutton Coldfield 2 (1)
Sarah Parkinson-Mills, 30 (FG)
Susan Wood, 57 (FG)
Bowdon Hightown 3 (2)
Lily Wolstenholme, 8 (FG)
Jane Donnelly, 18 (PC)
Sally Walton, 67 (PC)
Bowdon celebrate Photo: Ravi Ghowry
Bowdon Hightown maintained their Premier Division status for the next season with a dramatic 3-2 win over Sutton Coldfield. With both sides still harbouring top flight ambitions heading into the match the stakes were high and the pressure was on. The match did not disappoint as goals from Lily Wolstenholme and Jane Donnelly were cancelled out by strikes from Sarah Parkinson-Mills and Susan Wood. There was still time for a Sally Walton penalty stroke to be disallowed before the same player netted a late third to secure the vital win for the Seahorses, breaking Sutton’s hearts.
Wolstenholme opened the scoring for Bowdon Hightown in the eighth minute. She carved her way through Sutton’s defence to set up Walton. Her shot was saved but Wolstenholme was on hand to snap up the rebound.
Wolstenholme’s pace was a constant threat and with Sutton down to ten players Bowdon were able to capitalise via a Donnelly penalty corner.
Sutton halved the deficit before the break with a goal from Sarah Parkinson-Mills and then after the break with time running out Susan Wood levelled it up, setting up a dramatic final 13 minutes.
From a sequence of penalty corners, Bowdon won a penalty stroke but despite Walton finding the net it was disallowed for a double touch. Undeterred the Hightown No23 netted a 67th minute penalty corner to win the match, saving her side’s top flight status and sending Sutton back to the conference for next season.
Captain Kayleigh Humphreys was pleased with the character her side showed throughout the Play-Off fixtures: “I’m really proud of the girls this weekend; they have shown some true grit and determination. At half time we just believed we could do it. We have played against Sutton Coldfield before, we know they never stop and they are a great team, so we just had to keep working.”
Wakefield 1 (0)
Gwen Smith, 70 (PC)
Slough 1 (1)
Charly Brydon, 27 (FG)
Wakefield v Slough Photo: Simon Parker
Slough, having confirmed their top flight status on Saturday, narrowly missed out on making it three wins from three as a resolute Wakefield side earned a hard-fought draw with the last action of the match. With two wins from the opening two matches the Pink and Blacks had done what they needed to do, earning a place in the top tier and redemption after last year’s playoff disappointment.
In an even encounter, Slough had the better of the attacking play in the first half, and when Kelly Morgan’s pin-point pass allowed Amy Sheehan to put Charly Brydon in for the opener after 27 minutes, it was no less than they deserved heading into the break.
Wakefield never gave up though, and a succession of penalty corners throughout the second half eventually paid off, with Gwen Smith netting as the final whistle sounded.
Slough coach Kali Takher, speaking after the game, said: “We’re very pleased with the outcome, for the club and the players. This has been a three-year journey, we’ve had some players come and go, but I think teamwork, perseverance and resilience has been key to our success. One or two players have made a massive difference to us – Amy Sheehan scoring a lot of goals, Dilly Newton playing brilliantly throughout the season, and Lizzy Totten, who hasn’t played national league hockey before, has been amazing. Big praise needs to go to our captain Kat McGonigle – the ethos she instills in the rest of the group is incredible, she deserves a lot of credit for our success.”
Report courtesy of England Hockey
