Season starts with a loss
Women’s Hockey East League Premier Division Results: Wisbech Town 3 Holcombe 1, Ipswich 1 Brom & Becks 1, Cambridge Uni 3 Norwich City 1, Bedford 5 Old Loughts 2, Norwich Dragons 2 Wapping 1, St Albans 2nds 3 Maidstone 0. Fixtures: Holcombe v St Albans 2nds, Brom & Becks v Wisbech Town, Norwich City v Ipswich, Old Loughts v Cambridge Uni, Wapping v Bedford, Maidstone v Norwich Dragons.
Kent Premier Division Results: Old Bordenians 2 Kings Alleyns 3, Cliftonville 1 Marden Russets 2, Sevenoaks 3rds 4 Sevenoaks 4ths 0, Gravesend 1 Old Williamsonians 3, Bexleyheath & Belvedere 4 Canterbury 3rds 3. Fixtures: Sevenoaks 4ths v Meopham, Canterbury 3rds v Cliftonville, Marden Russets v Gravesend, Old Williamsonians v Old Bordenians, Kings Alleyns v Sevenoaks 3rds, Folkestone Optimist 2nds v Bexleyheath & Belvedere. Results: Ashford 2nds 1 Burnt Ash 2nds 2, Gillingham Anchorians 1 Blackheath and OEs 2nds 3, Bromley and Beckenham 4ths 2 Bromley and Beckenham 3rds 1, Maidstone 2nds 8 Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds 0, Herne Bay 5 Tunbridge Wells 3rds 0, Sevenoaks Acorns 2 Holcombe 2nds 3. Fixtures: Bromley and Beckenham 3rds v Maidstone 2nds, Holcombe 2nds v Ashford 2nds, Tunbridge Wells 3rds v Sevenoaks Acorns, Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds v Herne Bay, Burnt Ash 2nds v Gillingham Anchorians, Blackheath and OEs 2nds v Bromley and Beckenham 4nds. Results: Gore Court 2nds 0 Dartford 7, New Beccehamians 2 Sevenoaks 5ths 2, Kings Alleyns 2nds 1 Burnt Ash 3rds 0, Canterbury 3As 5 Maidstone 3rds 2. Fixtures: Ashford 3rds v New Beccehamians, Edenbridge v Gore Court 2nds, Sevenoaks 5ths v Kings Alleyns 2nds, Maidstone 3rds v Deal, Dartford v Canterbury 3As, Burnt Ash 3rds v Holcombe 3rds. Maidstone Ladies endured a disappointing start to their East League Premier Divison season with a 3- 0 defeat at St Albans 2nds on Saturday.
After an encouraging pre-season and with confidence high, the visitors began brightly and Katie Gibbons’ fine cross almost led to an early goal, although Jenny Vincent kept the hosts at bay with a save at the other end.
The deadlock was broken late in the opening half with a short corner routine from the hosts and with heads dropping, Maidstone found themselves 2- 0 down within minutes as they were caught on the break.
The visitors improved after half-time and threatened to pull one back but it was the home side who got the final goal when they pounced amid confusion over a Maidstone free-hit inside their own 25.
Some well-worked passes and play by vice-captain Hannah Durston and player-of-the-match Emma Worsfold saw Maidstone press in the final 10 minutes but they failed to make a breakthrough.
Norwich visit Armstrong Road on Saturday (1.45pm).
The 2nds made a flying start to their Kent League Division 1 campaign with an 8- 0 win over BBHC.
Newcomer Gabriella Dunn stole the show with a double hat-trick in a player-of-the-match performance while her fellow debutant Stephanie Lundray netted the other two and Louise Fox also impressed in her first appearance. Helen Spears set up several of the goals.
The 3rds lost 5-2 at Canterbury in Division 2. Despite lots of early pressure, it was the hosts who took a 2- 0 lead.
Maidstone battled back to level with Julie Davies firing in a reversestick strike before Olivia Ryan’s fine run and finish.
However, despite some good saves from stand-in keeper Maddy Coffey Canterbury rallied to take the points.
The men’s 5ths went down 5-3 at Folkestone in their opening friendly.
A missed tackle led to the hosts taking the lead but after some great interplay and a super through ball from Zach Quinn, 13-year-old Dylan Collie equalised.
The hosts capitalised again as Maidstone’s defence failed to clear and a breakaway goal made it 3-1 but short-corner strikes either side of half-time from Simon Emery made it 3-3.
Despite plenty of pressure, the visitors couldn’t find another goal and two goals in the final five minutes sealed Folkestone’s win.