1-0 Loss Blow to Survival Hopes

With both sides realising the importance of the fixture, the opening exchanges were cagey with Buckingham edging a first half of few chances.

However, it was an incident in the 15h minute that was to prove pivotal to the outcome of the match. A ball was raised dangerously into Kitty Higgins, who suffered a blow to the thumb that left her on the ground but instead of an early whistle, play was allowed to go on for a few seconds, in which time a collision for a loose ball resulted in Katrina Nicholson being left with a badly dislocated finger, ruling her out for the rest of the encounter.

In the period that both players were off, Bowdon scored the only goal of the game when a shot from their first penalty corner somehow found its way into the net.

Buckingham responded with a couple of penalty corners but both were well saved, while Sam Sandham had an effort cleared off the line as the visitors remained 1-0 behind.

After a change in shape at the break, Buckingham began the second half very much in the ascendency, creating two good chances and a penalty corner in the opening six minutes but they were unable to profit and despite earning three penalty corners in a frantic last few minutes, the visitors were once again left to wonder what might have been.

Buckingham host Reading this weekend and know anything but victory will suffice with relegation rivals Bowdon facing table-topping Surbiton on the same day.