There was a fair degree of success across Bedford Hockey Club’s 14 adult squads at the weekend, with just a few disappointments.
The Men’s 1st XI built on last weekend’s opening day victory over St Albans with a 3-1 away win over Saffron Walden in the Premier Division, with goals coming from Charlie Blythman, Alex Drummond and Richard Evans.
Saffron Walden gained their consolation goal in the final minute of the match.
The Men’s 2nd XI, playing in Division One South, drew 1-1 against Upminster; Bedford’s Rhys Badman opening the scoring ten minutes into their match.
The score remained 1-0 right up to the 67th minute, thanks to some great defensive play from Bedford, before Upminster clinched the leveller.
There was a 4-2 loss for the Men’s 3rd XI away to St Albans, but the 4th XI claimed a closely fought 4-3 win over Rickmansworth, with all four of Bedford’s goals coming from the stick of Mark Ramage.
There were losses for both the Men’s 5th and 7th XIs, the 5th team losing 3-0 away to St Albans and the 7th XI losing 3-1 to Welwyn Garden City.
The Men’s 6th XI were winners, securing a 4-0 away win over St Albans. Two goals from Sandeep Sira, one for Jeremy Woodrow and the fourth from Gary Hickman secured the convincing victory.
The top end of the Ladies’ section faced tough away fixtures.
The 1st XI, in their opening league match of the season in the Women’s Conference Midlands, suffered a devastating 5-0 loss away to Harleston Magpies.
They will hope for a boost from a home crowd next Saturday (26 September), when they host the University of Nottingham, who suffered a loss to Cambridge University this weekend.
The Ladies’ 2nd XI returned from Saffron Walden with youngster Tilly Sheldon having scored Bedford’s only goal in a 4-1 loss.
There was greater success for the club’s five other women’s squads.
The Ladies’ 3rd XI triumphed 5-0 against St Albans; a brace apiece for Emma Burak and Natalia Norford Reynolds doing the majority of the damage, and the fifth goal coming from the stick of Harri Kinnear.
A single goal by Alice Brady-White in the 51st minute proved sufficient to secure the win over Stevenage’s 2nd XI, for Bedford’s 4th XI.
Goals from Jasmine Moon and Charlotte Goodson gave the 5th XI a 2-1 victory away to Stevenage’s 3rd XI.
The 6th XI returned from Welwyn Garden City triumphant, having beaten their opponents 4-0.
Leah Foley opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match, followed by two from Taryn da Silva, before Leah clinched her second with four minutes of the match to play.
Finally, the Ladies’ 7th XI Development Squad, a very youthful team, were happy to hold a strong, and more senior, Stevenage’s 5th XI to a goalless draw.
Words by Jean Fitch
