Newly appointed coach Tom Hewitt took charge of the squad for the first time in a competitive fixture and he retained all of the core players from last season’s squad who finished 2nd in the league with Ellie Priston and Pippa Jones as the only new additions. Becca Budd unfortunately failed to recover from a calf injury sustained in pre-season in time for the visit of Old Loughts.

Bedford started the game at a high intensity, pressing their youthful opponents at every opportunity. On numerous occasions the BHC forward line forced errors in the Old Loughts transfer with the team showing good shape, structure and discipline. Bedford soon made a mark on the scoresheet as MOTM Pippa Jones found some space in the circle and produced an accurate finish before captain Rachel Jackson doubled the lead from the first short corner with a direct strike into the bottom corner. Bedford continue to dominate but were guilty of not capitalising from some good positions with a lack of incision in the final pass whilst the Loughts keeper came off her line to deny Andrea Mason. Just before half time the visitors from Essex enjoyed their best spell of possession and scored with their first shot at goal, after a skilful run and finish from their forward.

After the break Bedford continued to control the game. SJ Darrington, Harri Kinnear and Jenna Maclaren were able to burst forward from defence whilst Emma Pinny was always in pole position to win the ball back for the maroons now supported by Bedford Consulting Rooms. That was the theme with Bedford’s next two goals; high pressure led to two turnovers from Jones and Mason setting up goals from Steph Holyoak and Kate Costin respectively. Lought’s to their credit kept their marking tight, fought for every 50-50 and were able to counterattack to good effect, pulling a goal back from a penalty corner second phase. To help see the game out, Charlotte Holland and Becky Tarrant in the BHC midfield kept their composure whilst Priston put in a solid display on her Bedford L1’s return from University. There was just time in the game’s final moment for Beth Noble to add a fifth goal from a corner routine to see Bedford take an early lead in the East Premier league; a lead they will be looking to maintain next weekend at Lee Valley Hockey centre against newly promoted Wapping.