Bedford's winning run halted by Holcombe
HOLCOMBE 4 BEDFORD HOCKEY CLUB LADIES 1
East Premier
Bedord Hockey Club Ladies' 4-1 away defeat at Holcombe crushed their promotion chances, ended their unbeaten run in 2012 and saw the hosts complete an East Premier double over the Chester Road side.
Bedford's chances of gaining revenge for their 2-1 home reverse suffered a big blow in midweek with injury forcing Katherine Winger to withdraw from the squad and work commitments ruling out goalkeeper Leanne Sargent.
With midfielders Sarah Walsh, Kelly Bingham and Becky Childs also out, the team brought Jenna Maclaren and Maya Thrasher into the set-up with Verity Mason-Macleod, on her return to the first team, taking up an unfamiliar role in-between the sticks.
Despite an enforced two-week break due to freezing weather Bedford confidently took the game to their opponents from the first whistle with a great spell of pressure in the first five minutes that saw chances for Connie Mason and Kate Costin.
Only some heavy handed fouls from the Holcombe defence prevented the opening goal with a number of short corners conceded as a result.
However failing make the most of their impressive start, Bedford were hit with the ultimate sucker-punch as Holcombe scored with a short corner deflected in on the far post in their first venture into the visitors' circle.
Bedford tried to fight back working hard as a unit to press play with Thrasher looking pacey down the right and Sherri Skene in the centre midfield involved in most of Bedford's good play.
Eventually a deserved equaliser was scored when Yvette Van Yperen's fine disguised pass was dispatched past the keeper by captain Costin to bring the scores level.
Bedford looked threatening going forward but as the half wore on Holcombe began to take advantage of some misplaced passes and inpatient tackles.
Natalia Norford found herself one-on-one with the keeper after a great pass from Fran Lee but the opportunity wasn’t taken.
Bedford weren't getting the rub of the green in front of goal with Lee, Van Yperen and Mason all denied by the Holcombe keeper, while at the other end the Kent side took the lead as Bedford failed to clear their lines and the ball snuck into the corner past the hapless Mason-McLeod.
Bedford were still creating the majority of the chances but couldn't capitalise. A rare shot from full-back Darrington, after a great run and one-two with Mason, couldn’t beat the solid Holcombe defence as the former's cross-cum-shot whistled across the goal with Maclaren unable to reach the follow-up, so at half time Bedford were trailed 2-1.
Into the second half and Bedford tried to get back into the game but it was Holcombe who had the majority of possession with the Maroons chasing shadows and defenders Nic Pether, Elli Priston and Darrington having to make a number of important tackles and interceptions.
Bedford’s work rate couldn’t be faulted but when they did win the ball back often the final pass was lacking quality or the Holcombe goalkeeper came to their rescue.
With the game quite a feisty affair, Costin, Skene and Van Yperen were all denied in front of goal.
Lee was given a yellow card, meaning she missed the last ten minutes and with Bedford forced to push players forward, the defence was left exposed.
Although Mason-McLeod made a number of impressive saves in a player-of-the- match performance, she couldn’t reach two well-placed shots and Holcombe came away 4-1 victors.
This Saturday, Bedford host relegation threatened Ipswich – push back at Chester Road is 1pm
