The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
City of Peterborough Ladies chase a hat-trick of home wins
Hockey - Great start to the Premier Division season.
City of Peterborough Ladies are delighted with their start to the East Premier Division.
Two promotions in three seasons propelled City into the top-flight for the first time in the club’s history, but all predictions of a struggle have been confounded.
Instead a squad brimming with young talent has taken the rise in class in their stride. Last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Norwich Dragons at Bretton Gate made it six points from their opening three matches and fourth place in the table.
City seek a third home win on the spin against Maidstone this Saturday (1pm).
“We are very pleased with the start to the season in a brand new league,” City skipper Robyn Gribble said. “Six points from the first three games is a very positive start.
“The squad have settled in very quickly and adapted well to playing at such a high level, especially our juniors.
“Over the next week, we will continue to work on our fitness and our desire to play a high intensity free-flowing game.
“Our ability to keep creating chances, and more importantly, capitalising on those chances is very promising and I am very optimistic going forward.
“We are looking to gain another three points this week- end, but it will be a tough battle against a team who have had a lot of experience of playing in this league.”
Teenager Jeorgia Carr (2) and Gribble scored the City goals against Dragons, but goalkeeper Holly Riches was voted player-of-the-match thanks to a string of fine saves.
City of Peterborough men came back from behind twice to force a decent 2-2 draw in the Premier A Division at a strong Harleston side. Young Brendan Andrews and Ross Ambler scored the goals. City, who are seventh despite an unbeaten start, are back on the road again this Saturday when travelling to Ipswich.
Bottom beat top in the Premier B Division last weekend when Waltham Forest left City of Peterborough seconds with a 2-1 win under their belts. Bourne Deeping picked up their first point with a 4-4 draw against Ipswich & East Suffolk.
City of Peterborough fourths beat leaders St Neots 3-1 in a Division Three North West match. Peter Lawton, Aaron Angus and Simon Buckley scored the City goals.
March have won all three matches at this level and scored after just 23 seconds of a 4-2 win over Cambridge City vets. The Wright brothers, Ryan and Ben, claimed three of the goals between them.
Spalding led at Cambridge Uni through Sam Whitfield, but lost 3-1, a third straight Premier A Division defeat.
Gary Freear hit a hat-trick as Wisbech seconds won 6-1 at Bourne Deeping thirds in Division Four North West.
March Ladies won for the first time this season in Division Three Hana Howsam scored three in a 5-0 hammering of Bury St Edmunds.