On a beautiful sunny day Clifton Robinsons W1s met long standing rivals Bowdon in the England Hockey Women’s Premier League. With two games already gone both teams were winless and so already this was a pivotal game in Phase 1 of the league. Bowdon started the better pinning Clifton back in their own half in the first minutes and took a deserved lead after 6 minutes when Maddie Scullion scored from close range. Clifton rallied and took the game to Bowdon. Evie Grindal made a dazzling run down the left and into the D before Darcey Shields crossed the ball for Carmen Ansley to score at the far post. The game remained a fair 1-1 until the end of the 3rd quarter. With 8 minutes left Bowdon broke the deadlock when Annabel Mills scored from a rebound with Clifton claiming a dangerous shoulder high ball. Bowdon sealed the points three minutes from time when Aine Curran drilled a shot into the far corner. Clifton competed well throughout the game but in the end the greater experience of Bowdon won the day.
Clifton: A de Visser [GK/Capt]; L Dunn; K Gierak; T Edwards; R Daniel; J Lea; A Mainwaring; SJ Thorburn; I Lowton; C Ansley; E Grindal; D Shields; C Witham; C Milsom; E Puddicombe