With the Christmas break beginning to take effect, there were only three games on the weekend’s hockey calendar, with the highlight being the Women’s 3rd XI in cup action.
The England Hockey Women’s Tier 3 Championship draw saw Bedford host Leighton Buzzard; the game ending with a Bedford victory via a penalty shoot out after a thrilling see-saw game.
Molly Lincoln opened the scoring for Bedford, only for Leighton Buzzard to equalise and then take a 2-1 lead to stun the Bedford side.
A second break-away run by Lincoln had the teams level pegging again, though the status quo was short lived as Leighton scored again to retake a 3-2 lead.
Not prepared to accept defeat, Bedford stepped up to the task in hand; Lincoln netting the equaliser and bagging her hattrick in the process to secure a 3-3 draw.
Great keeping by Lucy Sellers, and successful conversions by Bedford’s penalty takers, not surprisingly including Lincoln, secured the victory for Bedford.
The other two games were rearranged 7th XI fixtures, with the Men in action against second-placed Bishop’s Stortford, while the Women travelled to Stevenage.
Both sides drew 2-2, with the youthful Women’s side gaining a valuable point in their pursuit of Harpenden while the Men still have games in hand on those around them.
The next action to be seen at Bedford Hockey Club, weather and Covid permitting, will be the traditional Boxing Day mixed hockey run-around.
