WOMENS
It was a tight first weekend on the Womens Division One North with three draws and only one game decided by more than a goal. Promoted Leeds lost out 2-1 in their Yorkshire derby at Ben Rhydding. The other promoted team, Loughborough Students 2 also lost on the road, 3-1 at Buckingham. Sutton Coldfield return after a season in the top flight saw them draw 1-1 at Beeston who finished second last time round. It was the same score line in the Pendle Forest – Repton game. Gloucester City came from 2-0 down in the last quarter to draw 2-2 with Olton & West Warwicks.
Relegated Holcombe made a great start in their quest to return to the Premier Division winning 6-2 at Harleston Magpies with six different scorers on the teamsheet. The battle of the promoted teams went the way of Reading 2s with two Kathryn Petch goals helping them to a 2-1 win at Teddington. Maria Andrews hit a late winner to give Bristol Firebrands the points in a 3-2 win over Southgate. Exeter University beat Sevenoaks 3-1 and Guildford – Surbiton 2s game ended 2-2.
Both promoted teams made winning starts in Conference West. A Jamie Bulbring goal was enough for Cardiff & Met to win 1-0 at Exeter and Oxford University won a thrilling game at Clifton Robinsons 2s with Claire McFall netting an overtime corner to secure a 4-3 win. Team Bath Buccaneers won 3-0 at Marlow and Lansdown also won away, 2-1 at relegated Slough. Milly Chatterley scored twice as Trojans eased past Cheltenham 4-0.
Last season’s Conference North runners-up Fylde were beaten 2-1 at Bowdon 2s. Kirkby Stephen and Wakefield were playing two Divisions apart last season but after promotion for the Cumbrians and relegation for the Yorkshire team they met for the first time and drew 2-2. Sheffield, who were also promoted, also drew 2-2, with Didsbury Northern. Alderley Edge returned from the long trip to Whitley Bay & Tynemouth with three points after a 3-0 win. Durham 2s took the honours in the NE University battle, beating Newcastle 1-0.
Katie Long hit a 68th minute winner to give relegated Leicester City a 2-1 win at Stourport in their first Conference Midlands game. There were losses for both promoted teams. Harleston Magpies 2s went down 3-0 at Cannock for whom Jodie Beddow scored twice. Nottingham Trent University lost to student counterparts Cambridge 3-1, Lottie Gill netting a brace for Cambridge. Birmingham University 2s and Cambridge City had shared six goals within the first 22 minutes before defences tightened up but Birmingham managed two second half goals to win 5-3. St Albans came from two down to draw 2-2 with Oxford Hawks.
Last season’s Conference East runners-up Hampstead & Westminster 2s started with a 3-1 at Old Georgians. Relegated Wimbledon 2s were helped to a 3-3 draw at Guildford 2s by a Lola Bryant brace. Katie MacCallum also scored twice for Old Loughtonians who beat Canterbury 3-1. Promoted Barnes 2s drew 2-2 at Spencer and London Wayfarers overcame Wapping 2-1.
OPEN/MEN’S
In Open/Men’s Division One South, Indian Gymkhana who finished runners-up last season started with an emphatic 6-2 win at Richmond who were relegated after a season in the Premier Division. Teddington were also in the goals, beating Havant 5-0. The two promoted teams, Surbiton 2s and Guildford drew 1-1 and there were home wins for Old Loughtonians, 2-0 over Canterbury and Exeter University, 3-1 against Sevenoaks.
Relegated Bowdon made a positive start in Division One North, winning 4-0 at Birmingham University. All the other games that were concluded also saw away wins. Loughborough Students won 1-0 at Nottingham University, Repton made a good start on their Division One debut with a 2-1 win at Durham University and Olton & West Warwicks took the honours in the West Midlands derby with a 3-2 win at Harborne. Deeside Ramblers and Timperley will have to try again after their game was beaten by the weather.
Lindum returned to Conference North after a season in Division One and made a flying start, winning 6-0 at Oxton which included a hat-trick for Sam Dixon. Leeds, who finished second in 24-25 also got off to a good start taking the honours in the Yorkshire derby with a 3-1 win at Ben Rhydding. Promoted Neston beat Doncaster 5-3 and there were also home wins for Sheffield, 2-1 against Didsbury Northern and Durham University 2s, 3-1, against newcomers Newcastle University.
Chichester were the weekend’s top scorers winning their Conference West South Coast derby against Fareham 9-1, Josh Brown scoring four. Jack Wetherell scored twice as Exeter University 2s beat student counterparts Bristol 4-0. Clifton Robinsons. Isaac Hocking was another twice on target and he helped his team defeat Isca 2-1. Relegated Team Bath Buccaneers won 3-2 at Marlow and Ashmoor also won on their travels, 2-0 at promoted Cardiff & Met 2s.
Back in Conference Midlands after a season a level higher, Stourport beat Nottingham University 2s 2-1. St Albans won 4-1 at home against Oxford Hawks and elsewhere it was the away teams who came out on top. Norwich City won 5-2 at Birmingham University 2s, and the promoted sides also came away with wins – City of Peterborough 4-2 at Banbury and Leek 5-2 at Barford Tigers with Ben White netting a hat-trick.
London Wayfarers who narrowly missed out on promotion from Conference East last season were held 1-1 by Brighton & Hove. There were differing fortunes for promoted teams, Southgate 2s won 2-0 at Bromley & Beckenham whilst Holcombe 2s went down 4-1 at Old Cranleighan. Chelmsford, who made a sideways move from Conference Midlands beat Wimbledon 2s 3-1 and Hampstead & Westminster 2s won 4-2 at Spencer.
