Bedford Hockey Club Ladies’ 1st XI pulled off a statement victory on Saturday (18 October) as they thrashed Cambridge University 5-0 in just one of another huge schedule for the Chester Road outfit over the past weekend.
A brace from Ellie Scott, as well as a double for Kate Costin and an Aine Gransden clincher sees Bedford sat second with a game in hand over current top of the table, Cambridge City.
It’s a home game for Bedford this coming weekend, when they take on 10th-placed Bury St Edmunds, with a 1.15pm push back at Chester Road.
It was Ipswich who opened the scoring in the Men’s 1st XI fixture just five minutes into the match from a penalty corner.
End-to-end action followed, with shots on goal at both ends as Bedford keeper and man of the match, Philip Morris made some dramatic saves to keep Bedford in the game.
It wasn’t until the 32nd minute that Bedford’s Alex Drummond found the back of the net with a penalty corner to bring the scores level, with the game ending 1-1.
There was also a fantastic win for the Men’s 2nd XI, hammering their Brentwood opponents 5-0.
The first goal came from the stick of Arran De Sousa-Butterworth just a minute into the match, following up with his second on the 15-minute mark. Two further goals came from Rhys Badman, while the fifth was bagged by Oscar Jenkins.
There was also victory for the Ladies 2nd XI; three goals from open play securing the points for Bedford, as they triumphed 3-1 over St Albans. Goals came from Alex Day, Cheryll Wilson and Ella Roberts.
Votes for Players’ Player saw the award shared by young keeper, Alma Vochin and Rebecca Budd.
Luck ran out for both the club’s 3rd XI’s, each playing Bishop’s Stortford opposition.
The men suffered a 3-0 defeat, but the Ladies were unfortunate to lose 3-2 having taken a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute, only for Stortford to equalise and then take the win in the final minute of the game.
It was another Bishop’s Stortford team that dominated in the Men’s 4th XI match, as Bedford returning home deflated after a 6-0 defeat.
The Ladies’ 4th XI also lost out 2-0 to Berkhamsted & Hemel.
There was a triumphant journey back to Bedford from Berkhamsted & Hemel for the Ladies’ 5th XI, as goals from Jasmine Moon, Joy Leeson and Ali Woodward gave Bedford the 3-1 win.
Whilst the Men’s 5th XI took an early lead against Hertford, with a goal from Elliot Potter in the eighth minute, Hertford pulled two goals back; the second with just two minutes left on the clock to take the game 2-1.
It was a 4-0 loss for the Men’s 6th XI away to Hertford, but a 1-0 win for the Ladies over Bishop’s Stortford.
The win came courtesy of a goal from Danielle Shaw, but it was thanks to fantastic keeping by Bedford’s Players’ Player, Charlotte Toombs that kept that valuable lead intact.
There was a bye for the Men’s 7th XI, but back-to-back away games for the Ladies.
Saturday ended with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Shefford & Sandy, but there was elation on Sunday when they returned with a 3-1 victory over Saffron Walden.
Words by Jean Fitch
