It was another winning weekend for almost all of Bedford Hockey Club’s 14 senior squads, with 12 teams securing points from their matches, led by a morale-boosting win for the Ladies 1st XI.
They welcomed the University of Nottingham to Bedford’s Chester Road home ground, with the match playing out in front of a sizable crowd.
Leaving last week’s away defeat behind them, Bedford took the victory 2-1 with goals coming from Ellie Scott and Kate Costin; the two prolific goal scorers picking up where they left off last season.
The team have another home fixture this coming Saturday (3 October), with a 1.30pm push back against the University of Birmingham.
The Men’s 1st XI secured their third league win in a row with a 3-1 away victory over Pelicans; Richard Evans bagging a brace and Alex Drummond taking the third.
The Men also get to enjoy a home fixture this Saturday, hosting Old Loughtonians with a 3.15pm push back.
A goal from Amelia Godwin gave the Ladies’ 2nd XI a 1-1 draw against their Old Loughtonians opponents.
The Men’s 2nd XI were the only men’s team not to come away with a win at the weekend, falling 5-2 away to Sudbury, with Harry Howlett scoring both of Bedford’s goals.
The Ladies’ 3rd XI finished with a 3-3 draw against St Albans. Natalia Norford Reynolds, Emma Burak and Martii Maze-Brown ensured the team came away with points.
For the Men, there was a fantastic 6-1 victory over Southgate Adelaide. Lee Hoggett scored a hat trick, with Mark Ramage, Thomas Kelk and James Oakley scoring a goal apiece.
Sue Glover and Annabel Sadler saw the Ladies’ 4th XI to a 2-1 win over St Albans, while the Men’s 4th XI, playing in the same division as Bedford’s 3rd XI, did amazingly well to gain a 4-2 win over Hertford.
Seb Ullah scored two, with one each for Jake Woodrow and Freddie Gibbs.
The Ladies’ 5th XI returned from playing local rivals, Shefford and Sandy with a 1-0-win; Nicola Reddy’s goal 18 minutes into the match clinching the victory.
The Men also travelled to Shefford and Sandy, heading home 3-1 victors thanks to a Tony Gammon hat trick.
It was a devastating loss for the Ladies’ 6th XI; Leah Foley had brought the scores level after St Albans took an early advantage, only for St Albans to snatch the win in the closing minutes.
The Men, in their St Albans’ fixture, won 3-2 with Jeremy Woodrow, Gary Hickman and Dan Sims the goal scorers.
Finally, there were wins for both 7th XIs; the Ladies Development Team beating Shefford and Sandy 3-2 as Cheri West netted two and Winnie Ralley-Davies the third.
The Men beat Stevenage 3-0, thanks to goals from Paul da Silva and two from Keith Waterhouse.
Words by Jean Fitch
