Vitality Women’s Hockey League Premier Division
25 September 2021
Surbiton 2 Beeston 0
Beeston’s dismal record at Sugden Road continued as they lost for the fourth time in five Premier Division visits, failing to score on all four occasions.
Beeston came into the match with confidence having beaten Holcombe for the first time in the top flight in seven attempts, Lucy Millington’s late penalty stroke giving them a 2-1 win at Nottingham Hockey Centre.
However, in spite of a spirited performance, it was Surbiton who prevailed yet again with a goal in each half.
Beeston kept possession in the early minutes with Millington and Ella Cusack aiming to help the visitors strike early and Hannah Grieve had an early opportunity to score from a penalty corner, but Surbiton stayed patient before easing themselves into the game.
Meg Dowthwaite and Darcy Bourne both forced saves from former Buckingham goalkeeper, Steph Tirrell and Maddie Long was unlucky not to find an attacking touch in the circle from a penetrating cross.
The breakthrough came just seconds before the end of the first quarter, Georgie Twigg, having missed the first match with Clifton Robinsons due to marriage, returning to the squad with a bang, converting Surbiton’s second and last penalty corner.
Former Beeston player, Lottie Ross battled with Ruby Apoola in the second quarter and Bourne tested Tirrell a second time in the second quarter after a run by Sophie Hamilton. Discipline started to waver towards half time as Surbiton’s Emily Defroand and Beeston’s Lauren Burrell both spent two minutes in the sin-bin.
Beeston had a chance just before half time to level, but Sabbie Heesh saved Maddie Pendle’s penalty corner shot, Surbiton going in at the break with their one goal lead intact.
Another former Beeston player, Eloise Stenner had scored the first goal when Beeston had secured their only win against Surbiton in November 2018 and became the first player to score for both sides in the fixture when within a minute of the restart she turned in Holly Payne’s cross from the right, from close range.
Beeston forced two successive penalty corners to try and get back into the match but Grieve couldn’t get the ball on target from the second.
Unfortunately, in the 41st minute, the game was suspended for some minutes after Hamilton sustained a blooded head injury which needed bandaging in the far corner of the pitch. After Hamilton walked off the pitch to sympathetic applause and blood was cleaned off the pitch, the game was able to resume.
Although both teams battled, the game wasn’t the same after the injury as both teams seemed to have lost their momentum after the stoppage. Beeston also had an injury scare as after a clash, Alice Huddlestone limped off the pitch with five minutes to play.
Discipline was affected again late in the match as Beeston’s Nadia Benallal saw green and Surbiton’s Payne watched the final minutes from the naughty step after being shown a yellow card.
Surbiton head to Hamburg for the Euro Hockey League Ranking Cup and it is Beeston’s turn for a bye next weekend.
Surbiton:
Scorers: Georgie Twigg 18-PC, Eloise Stenner 36-F
Starters: Sabbie Heesh (GK); Alice Wills, Sarah Evans (Capt.), Georgie Twigg, Meg Dowthwaite, Sophie Hamilton, Eloise Stenner, Steph Elliott, Maddie Long, Alice Sharp, Robyn Collins.
Subs: Lottie Ross (5 mins), Darcy Bourne (7), Emily Defroand (7), Holly Payne (11), Elani Sherwood (14).
Cards: Green: Emily Defroand (31 mins). Yellow: Holly Payne (66 mins)
Beeston:
Starters: Steph Tirrell (GK); Nicola Moss, Julie Read, Ella Cusack, Cerys Miller, Alice Huddlestone, Lauren Burrell (Capt.), Hannah Grieve, Ruby Apoola, Maddie Pendle, Lucy Millington.
Subs: Nadia Benallal (3 mins), Mads Newitt (6), Sophie Edgington (6), Bea Bell (7), Martha Lawrence (10)
Cards: Green: Lauren Burrell (32 mins), Nadia Benallal (65 mins).
Match Official: Richard Barter
Umpires: Jane Hallett and Helen Sargeant
Report: Colin Pike
