Eastcote make bright start to new campaign

Convincing win over new boys a great start to season

Hillingdon Abbots

Ickenham EASTCOTE hockey showed no signs of rust as they began the new MBBO Division One campaign in some style.

A convincing 9-3 victory at newly-promoted Oxford will give the visitors hope for a successful campaign.

They began brightly with captain Alex Stobbart robbing the Oxford centre back and slotting the ball home in less than 20 seconds.

Despite controlling the game, Eastcote were undone when a defensive error in marking allowed Oxford an equaliser.

However, two more goals came quickly from Simon Archer and Stobbart again to make it 3-1 to the visitors.

In the second half, Eastcote stretched their lead with two more goals from David Cooper and one each from Stan Le Guezec, Alex Coyle and Peter Brooks as the Oxford defence struggled.

Eastcote were disappointed to concede two more goals in the second half, but it was a solid start nonetheless.

Eastcote ladies also secured their first three points with a solid 3-1 win at Brighton & Hove, Clare Devereaux, Lucy Allen and Sophie Castle hitting the net.

Elsewhere,

Old

Merchant Taylors’ lost 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at Wycombe.

Taylors’ Duchesses opened their campaign with a brace of defeats to Teddington fifths and Winchmore Hill and Enfield, the latter seeing Michelle Coupar get on the scoresheet in a 2-1 loss.

After a disappointing start to the season with two losses in Division Two, Old Uxonians ladies bounced back with a win against Southgate Ladies fifths.

Jo Verity scored within the first five minutes and Uxies went on to score four more in quick succession at the end of the game through Liz Laird, Alison Callaghan and a brace from player of the match Lisa Kinder.