England Hockey: Cannock men need a pair of late goals in the final two minutes to overcome a spirited Surbiton while Ipswich move back onto the top of the Women’s Premier 1 table in the latest round of the English Hockey League.
It was a six-point weekend for Ipswich, with a pair of wins moving them back onto the top of Women’s Premier 1 table.
On Saturday they beat Trojans 4-2 and in Sunday’s re-arranged local derby they overcame Harleston Magpies 5-0. Fyffes Leicester had won 2-1 at Canterbury on Saturday to keep hold of top spot for another 24 hours.
Canterbury took an early lead through England U18 international Hayley Brown and held on until second half goals from Crista Cullen and Helen Richardson gave Leicester all three points. Leicester return to Canterbury this Sunday for the Women’s Cup Final and Canterbury, now in fourth, will be hoping that Leicester beat Clifton so that the top four teams will qualify for the Super Cup.
Clifton are struggling to avoid relegation but picked up a useful point in a 1-1 draw at third-placed Chelmsford. Olton’s fine post-Christmas run continued with a 2-1 win over Bowdon Hightown with Denise Marston-Smith netting both their goals. Olton move up to sixth, but trail fourth placed Slough by four points after they beat bottom of the table Sutton Coldfield 6-2.
Doncaster won a crucial relegation battle 4-1 at Harleston Magpies to climb out of the bottom two and close the gap on the all-important safe haven of eighth place.
Men’s Premier 1 leaders Cannock received a scare at home to Surbiton, who led 2-1 with only two minutes left on the clock. However late goals from Matt Taylor and Mike Johnson saw a last gasp turnaround to keep the Staffordshire side three points ahead at the top of the table.
Second placed Reading got back to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Old Loughtonians with all their goals coming from Simon Mantell. Third played fourth and it was honours even as Loughborough Students and Guildford drew 3-3.
At the other end of the table two Stewart Keir goals helped Canterbury beat St Albans, the 2-1 result being the Saints best result of the season. Teddington also won 2-1 against Chelmsford to move within two points of Firebrands who drew 2-2 at Hampstead.
In an eventful last 10 minutes Hampstead equalised twice with Simon Lanyon putting Firebrands 2-1 up in between and the Bristol side also saw Shilen Tanna red carded.
Premier 1 Results
Women
Fyffles Leicester 2 defeated Canterbury 1
Chelmsford 1 drew Clifton 1
Doncaster 4 defeated Harleston Magpies 1
Ipswich 4 defeated Trojans 2
Olton & West Warwicks 2 defeated Bowdon Hightown 1
Slough 6 defeated Sutton Coldfield 2
Ipswich 5 defeated Harleston Magpies 0
Men
Cannock 3 defeated Surbiton 2
Hampstead & Westminster 2 defeated Firebrands 2
Loughborough Students 3 drew Guildford 3
Reading 3 defeated Old Loughtonians 1
Canterbury 2 defeated St Albans 1
Teddington 2 defeated Chelmsford 1
Points Table
Women
Ipswich 41 points
Fyffes Leicester 40
Chelmsford 36
Canterbury 35
Slough 33
Olton & West Warwicks 29
Bowdon Hightown 28
Clifton 14
Harleston Magpies 14
Doncaster 13
Trojans 11
Sutton Coldfield 0
Men
Cannock
Reading
Loughborough Students
Guildford
Surbiton
Chelmsford
Canterbury
Hampstead & W
Old Loughtonians
Firebrands
Teddington
St Albans
