After the high of last week’s win, Bedford Hockey Club Ladies’ 1st XI hit a wall against the University of Birmingham in the latest round of hockey fixtures for the Chester Road outfit.
A solitary goal from Ellie Scott was just a consolation, against the six by the opposition. The squad will brush themselves down and go again this Saturday (10 October), when they head away to Cambridge City.
It was a tough trip to Luton for the Ladies’ 2nd XI.
Luton started their scoring right from the off with the first goal coming just a minute into the match, with goals continuing to flow right up until the closing phase.
Bedford tried their hardest to match them; Amelia Winger and Tilly Sheldon both finding the back of the net from penalty corners, but Luton proved too formidable, scoring five goals in total.
The Ladies’ 3rd XI returned from Shefford and Sandy triumphant, as goals from Sophie Woodward, Natalia Norford Reynolds and Emma Burak gave Bedford the 3-1 win.
The Ladies’ 4th XI had a long trek for their victory, returning joyful from Saffron Walden. They won 4-1 and sit second in the table, thanks to goals from Annabel Sadler, Amy Lewis, and a brace for Taryn da Silva.
There was a frustrating 2-0 loss for the 5th XI, who battled hard against Royston’s first team. Royston retain the top spot in the division with Bedford, despite this loss, sitting in third.
The Ladies’ 6th XI move to the top of their division following their 6-1 victory over St Albans; four of Bedford’s goals coming from the stick of Sue Glover with the remaining two going to Joy Leeson and Leah Foley.
The Ladies’ 7th XI play in a division with a mix of development and non-development teams.
Bedford is a development squad, meaning many of its players are youngsters from the age of 12, but they currently sit second in the table with non-development team, Rickmansworth in first.
Rickmansworth had already accrued 19 goals after playing only two matches, so there was little surprise when they came out on top, as Bedford faced up to them on Saturday, losing 7-0.
First loss for Men’s 1st XI
It was a hard blow for the Men’s 1st XI, experiencing their first Premier league loss of the season.
In a feisty match, where Old Loughtonians were shown three green and two yellow cards, the single goal by Alex Drummond was unable to match the three from their opponents.
It’s another home fixture for Bedford this Saturday, when Norwich City travel to Chester Road for a 3pm push back.
Two goals from David Galloway gave the Men’s 2nd XI an away win over Old Southendian’s 2nd XI, whose first team also play in the same division and currently sit top of the table.
Bedford are in a comfortable fifth spot.
Bedford’s 3rd and 4th XI squads find themselves in the identical position of both teams being placed in the same division.
There was a win for the 3rd XI – 4-1 over Rickmansworth – but a loss for the 4th XI as they fell 5-1 against Broxbourne.
Goal scorers for the 3rd XI were Kieran Farrer, Richard McDonald, and two for Josh Dixon, whilst the 4th XI’s only goal came from Matt Ricketts.
It was a 6-0 victory for the 5th XI over Royston, aided by two goals from Keith Sohl, one for Tony Gammon, one from Craig Westley and one off the stick of Freddie Gibbs.
There was also a victory for the Men’s 6th XI over Saffron Walden; Dan Sims opening the scoring just a minute into the match.
Bedford’s remaining three goals came in the second half, from Martin McLeod, Jeremy Woodrow and Simon Rees, giving Bedford a 4-2 victory and holding them in their second place in the table.
Finally, the Men’s 7th XI clinched a 4-3 win over St Albans; Paul da Silva bagging a pair from penalty corners, with goals from open play scored by Oliver Waddington and Keith Waterhouse.
Words by Jean Fitch
