Bedford simply four-some at Colchester
COLCHESTER 0 BEDFORD HOCKEY CLUB LADIES 4
East Premier
Bedford secured a comfortable 4-0 away victory against Colchester to continue their unbeaten start to 2012.
The visitors were without the services of regular goal keeper Leanne Sargeant so eternal shot stopping wannabe Kate Costin stepped up to fill the void between the posts, with Nic Pether also returning to the squad.
Without a full warm-up due to pitch time constraints, Bedford took the first 10 minutes of the game to get into their stride. However, as the half wore on, they increasingly played a level of hockey that Colchester could not compete with.
Across the midfield the Maroons were supremely dominant with the trio of Katherine Winger, Sherri Skene and Yvette Van Yperen all involved in some great play both in defence but mainly attack.
Bedford kept the ball with ease and SJ Darrington was able to maraud forward from defence with great effect, setting up Bedford's opening goal with a lung-busting run and pass to Fran Lee, whose goal-bound shot was tucked home at the back post by Natalia Norford.
Bedford's success came with their ability to retain the ball for long periods while also winning the ball back from Colchester almost instantly with some great tackling from player-of-the-match Becky Childs and Elli Priston, who looked so assured at centre back.
The Chester Road side soon doubled their lead as Kelly Bingham and Andrea Mason combined to see Mason tuck the ball into the corner on the second attempt as they continued to be the games only creative force.
Bedford even had some unlikely candidates go in search of goals as Winger and Sarah Walsh on her reverse kept the Colchester keeper busy throughout the first half.
The away side then had a legitimate goal chalked off as Lee's flicked finished was adjudged to have been trapped on the wrong side of the stick just before half time.
After the break it was the same story, although the pace of the game was slightly slower.
Bedford still created many chances and won a series of short corners. Meanwhile, at the other end, Costin was left twiddling her thumbs.
Although some of Bedford's short corners looked rusty, Van Yperen continued her hot goalscoring streak for her new team, powering in a rebound after her initial short cannoned back off the keeper's head.
Bedford pressed forward in search of more goals with Childs, Mason and Skene all denied by some sharp goalkeeping, but the stopper was powerless to stop Bingham's strike to complete the scoring after a fine pass from Lee, capping a very pleasing performance and result for Bedford.
With leaders Bromley and Beckenham losing again, it sets things up nicely for their trip to Bedford next week- Push back at BHC at 1pm
