Leicester have made a spectacular return to the top of the EH Premiership following an indifferent 2008-09 season, no doubt helped by the return of Crista Cullen after a seasons break abroad and with a 2-0 home defeat today of Olton (who have now slipped to fourth in the division) with goals from Kerry Williams on 15 and Rebecca Herbert on 54 minutes both from open play.
Equally surprising this season has been the apparent virtual collapse of Hightown, defending Champions as last years runaway league winners, whose unbeaten run was ended on the last game of the 2008-2009 season. Pundits have been struggling to find an answer to Hightowns recent meteoric demise. The loss of Jo Ellis to Reading and Julie Hope to Sunderland cant have helped but neither too has the loss of eight players from the total squad during the summer months. Against struggling Trojans, who have been beaten every other game and have one draw ,a rebuilding Hightown could only manage a 1-1 draw and have only won one game so far ( in their first of the season away to Clifton 3-0. ) They recorded a creditable and very promising draw against Canterbury 4-4 at Polo Farm last weekend but had suffered a 3-2 away defeat at the hands of their local rivals, the re-branded Brooklands-Poynton, on 24th October at their new home George Road, Sale.
Todays match with Reading had the Berkshire side playing some of their best hockey so far in the first half. Laura Puddle opened the scoring within just 5 minutes then Alex Danson found the net on the 13th and then the 21st minute in open play. Next Readings Claire Kerr found the net from a penalty corner on 34 minutes with Danson getting her third on 37 minutes in open play. Reading had what appeared an unassailable 5-0 lead.
Reading coach Simon Latchford remarked that Bowdon came back at them more in the second half with Sally Walton especially having more effect. He suggested that Reading took the foot off the pedal a bit. Nicky ODonnell headed up a comeback with a fine goal in open play on 54 minutes and Sally netted again with a late goal on 69 minutes. Hightown may have found some satisfaction when Kirsty Mackay stopped a penalty stroke from their former team mate Jo Ellis during the game. Reading stay put over night in the area in preparation for their Women's Cup third round game tomorrow against Sheffield Hallam. Bowdon are now 8th in the table above Clifton on 4 points with Trojans struggling at the bottom with no wins, a single draw, just one point and a -23 goal difference.
Elsewhere Slough seem to have weathered their problems and continued their remarkable return to the top , despite having a small pool of players to choose from, and are up to third in the table with a 3-2 win stopping Canterbury from clawing a late comeback win .Natalie Golding put the game beyond the Kent sides reach with an open play goal on 48 minutes and then hanging in there till the final whistle. Lauren Penny had opened the scoring for Slough with a very early goal on three minutes and then Sarah Kerly bringing it level 14 minutes later. Slough came back hard with two exciting goals in open play first on 29 minutes and then , in the second half , on 49 both courtesy of Englands Ashleigh Ball.
Natalie Golding put the game beyond the Kent sides reach with an open play goal on 48 minutes and then hanging in there till the final whistle. Prem newcomers University of Birmingham, are now 5th in the table with a home win against Trojans. Ashlie Caddick opened the scoring in the 7th minute and in the second half Sophie Bray notched her seventh goal of the season on 49 minutes to seal the win.
The table leaders seem to have straightforward games next weekend- Reading are at home next weekend to Clifton while Leicester have Trojans away. Brooklands-Poynton welcome Slough at George Street with Bowdon are away at Olton. Birmingham University have Canterbury at Polo Farm.
