Ladies on song to deny leaders
BURTON Ladies 1st produced an outstanding performance to hold leaders Olton & West Warwickshire Ladies 2nds to a 2-2 draw.
It was the first time this season that the Midland Women’s Division Two front-runners had not won.
Burton soon stamped their mark on the game, dominating possession for the first 10 minutes before Olton found their feet.
However, Burton were rewarded for their first-half form when Lucy Pendleton gave them a 1-0 half-time lead.
The visitors levelled after the break thanks to a deflection but Burton hit back, Nicola Taylor picking out Amy Palmer charging forwards
The mixed team reached the second round of the England Hockey Tier One competition thanks to a 5-3 win against Stafford.
Elson and Nicola Taylor scored into an empty D to strike into the bottom left corner, giving the keeper no chance.
However, it did not take long for Olton to equalise again, breaking forward and catching the Burton keeper off guard.
Burton had another chance to score thanks to some skillful stick work by Hannah Tjon Soei Len but the eventual shot was blocked by a foot.
Palmer stepped up to take the penalty flick and, although the shot was well placed, the agile Olton keeper dived the right way to keep the ball out.
Both teams had chances in the closing minutes with Olton denied two each for the winners, while Cooper added a fifth as Burton led 5-1 with five minutes remaining.
Complacency allowed Stafford to score twice in the closing stages. by great defensive work from player of the match Leigh Baker.
Tjon Soei Len scored twice for Burton 2nds in their 3-0 win against Matlock 2nds in Derbyshire Women’s Division One.
Alice Hickman also scored and Annie Lord was named player of the match.
Player of the match Leanne Docksey scored twice for Burton 3rds in their 3-1 win against Derby 4ths, Chloe Logan also netting.
Burton Ladies 4ths defeated Belper 5ths 3-1 thanks to goals from Kirsten Dolman, Kacey Rice and Megan Johnson.
Eleanor Smedley made a superb penalty save in the closing stages. THE club also recently held their annual championships, over two nights, at the Meadowside Centre, with titles up for grabs for young swimmers in age groups from eight to 15-plus, as well as for masters.
In all, 123 swimmers took part and 166 new PB times were set on the first night and 220 more on the second. County championship qualifying times were swum in 64 races and 18 club records were broken, five of them alone by Ella Cooper in the 11/12 girls’ races.
Cooper and Sophie Fowkes topped the girls’ trophy table with seven wins each, while Emily Cople and Bella Smith were joint third with three wins each.
For the boys, Harrison Jones and George Greener had seven wins each, with Matt Gates third on five wins.