Bedford's corners condemn Cambridge

The BHC squad contained just one change with Pippa Jones returning in place of the unavailable Beth Noble. Bedford started the game at breakneck speed and dominated the early exchanges with a high intensity passage of play. Verity Mason-McLeod drove the circle and hit a rasping backhand drive which the keeper did very well to parry only for Kate Costin to volley the ball back with interest which drew another outstanding save from the Cambridge number one. Bedford kept pressing and from their second short corner after only three minutes, Charlotte Holland’s left slip strike evaded everyone and nestled in the bottom corner for her third goal of the season. The tempo of the game remained high throughout and the students slowly began to build momentum and gain a foothold in the fixture, matching the league leaders in aggression and physicality with the possession stats very even. On 15 minutes the students got back on level terms with a slick counter attack goal. Starting on own defensive 16 yard hit out they moved quickly through the middle of the pitch with a direct run and from a crash pass the scholars got a deft touch in the circle and the ball flew past Leanne Sargeant for 1-1. The game became a competitive midfield contest with goal scoring chances at a premium as the students marked the Bedford attackers tightly and both sides kept good shape in defence. MOTM Emma Pinny was for a second week in a row, the stand out player, covering the whole pitch with an exemplary work rate and doing a fine job in breaking down Cambridge attacks and screening the BHC backline.

At half time, stand in coach Martin Mason McLeod called for more creative, linked movement patterns upfront. Again Bedford made the brighter start to the half with some nice moves down the right hand side of the pitch, where the energetic SJ Darrington was able to join in from defence with good outcomes and some excellent interplay with Holland and Costin. Higginson nearly got in at the back post and again Bedford were able to convert pressure into corners where another slip routine and deflection to the near post gave Steph Holyoak a close range finish. The second half continued at a good pace with high quality hockey on display from two form teams. The students showed some neat stick skills in their build-up play but couldn’t breach the solid Bedford back line in spite of losing Ellie Priston to injury. Sam Turner confidently stepped in at centre back and she and captain Rachel Jackson transferred the ball with control and patience waiting for the openings into the midfield lines where Becca Budd had another strong game. Bedford had goalkeeper Leanne Sargeant to thank for a great block, coming off her line in the games closing stages to sniff out a ball in behind and a couple of Cambridge penalty corners were well defended by the maroons who were making their experience over the student team tell to secure another vital 3 points. Final score Cambridge University 1-2 Bedford

Next week Bedford host third placed Ipswich, the only unbeaten team in the league and the draw specialists who go into the game 5 points behind the maroons but with a squad containing plenty of national league pedigree.

Elsewhere it was another outstanding weekend for the ladies section with all 6 teams winning once again. A brace from ladies 2’s captain Yvette Van Yperen helped them to a 4-2 victory against Lowestoft whilst the 3s are on a run of 3 straight wins after beating local rivals Leighton Buzzard 3-1. Elsewhere the 4’s won 4-0, 5’s won 5-0 and 6’s 6-0 with doubles from Georgi Rapley, Alice Baker and Marina Marsden in those matches.