Last minute heroics from Bedford Hockey Club Ladies’ 1st XI goalkeeper, Leanne Sargeant helped keep her side top of the league heading into the Christmas break following a dramatic 4-3 victory over Ipswich at Chester Road.
Ipswich, the only team the Ladies’ 1st XI have lost to back in the first league fixture of the season, got off to the stronger start, opening the scoring at the close of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Bedford regroup, and goals from Emma Pinny and Kate Costin saw Bedford in front at the half-time whistle.
A Robyn Deal goal early in the third quarter extended Bedford’s lead, only for Ipswich to pull one back a few minutes later and then level the scores at the close of the quarter, leaving all to play for in the final phase.
Bedford regained the lead with five minutes to play from a converted penalty corner by S-J McDonald and, with the clock ticking down, it looked like Bedford had it in the bag only for Ipswich to be awarded a penalty corner right on the final whistle.
The Bedford victory was saved thanks to keeper Leanne Sargeant. The 4-3 victory takes the team into the Christmas break holding on to their top spot in the division.
The Men’s 1st XI put in a dominant performance after travelling to Saffron Walden; Harry Pybus giving Bedford an early lead, converting a penalty corner just a minute into the match.
The second goal came a few minutes later as Tom Parry scored from open play, before another converted penalty corner, this time by Vaughn Watson, took the score to 3-0.
A penalty stroke awarded to Bedford saw Alex Drummond step up to the spot to beat the keeper, confirming a 4-0 win to Bedford.
It was a 2-1 loss for the Ladies’ 2nd XI away to Saffron Walden, with Bedford’s solitary goal coming from Rebecca Stabler. A hat-trick from Arran De Sousa-Butterworth and a goal from Barnabe Faysee gave the Men’s 2nd XI a 4-3 win over Old Southendian’s 1st XI.
The Ladies’ 3rd XI’s 5-2 victory over St Albans was a real team effort, with five different goal scorers; Alice Facey, Bea Burak, Sophie Smith, Natalia Norford Reynolds and Heidi Whitbread the ones to find the back of the net.
The Men’s 3rd XI were disappointed to end 4-3 down against St Albans after a close-fought battle. They face a tough return to play in January, when their first fixture sees them take on top of the table, Blueharts.
The Ladies’ 4th XI continue their struggles this season, sitting in a strong division, which includes Bedford’s 3rd XI.
They put up a gallant fight away to sixth-place Saffron Walden, pulling back from 3-0 down with two late goals to bring it back to 3-2, but they were unable to force a draw.
A brace of goals by Kieran Farrer, for the Men’s 4th XI, gave them a 2-1 victory over Blueharts.
St Albans opened the scoring four minutes into the match against the Ladies’ 5th XI, a lead they held until the 22nd minute, when Bedford’s Joy Leeson found the back of the net.
The celebrations were short-lived however, as St Albans headed straight up the other end from the restart, and to the Bedford goal to regain the lead, following up with their third as the half-time whistle approached.
A penalty corner conversion by Lucy Wilson at the start of the second half raised Bedford’s hopes, but the remainder of the match played out without any further score, the match ending 3-2 to St Albans.
The Men’s 5th XI stretched their lead at the top of the table with a 3-2 win over St Albans. Two goals from James Pagliaro and one from James Logan took the season’s goal tally to 47 and see Bedford sitting 6 points clear of second placed Hertford.
Bedford opened the scoring in the Ladies’ 6th XI match away to Saffron Walden, Amber Howard finding the back of the net 16 minutes into play.
Saffron Walden grabbed the equaliser just four minutes later, and then went on to take the win 2-1, with their second on the 60th minute.
It was St Albans who scored first against the Men’s 6th XI, but not until the 20th minute of the match, which had seen end-to-end action and some great saves from keeper, Phil Bennett.
The second half continued much as the first, and it was Simon Rees who levelled the scores for Bedford. Just as it was looking as though the game was going to end in a draw, St Albans snatched the points with a goal in the final seconds of the match.
With Saffron Walden unable to field a team, the Ladies’ 7th XI finished early for their Christmas break, taking the points for the walkover, though disappointed not to have got to play.
A competitive match was guaranteed for the Men’s 7thXI, Bedford sitting second in the table and facing up to top of the division, Old Haberdashers, who had won every match up until this point.
A fantastic fight by Bedford saw them break their opponents’ winning run; a goal from Oliver Waddington matching the single goal by the Old Haberdashers to force a 1-1 draw.
Match play returns across all teams in the new year, with fixtures starting again on January 10.
Words by Jean Fitch
