Buckingham 3 Clifton Robinson's 2

On Saturday Buckingham took on a Clifton Robinson's side a point a head of them in the Investec Premier League table. Buckingham started well and created an opening in first minute but couldn’t quite find the final pass. The home side were passing the ball very well and a swift counter attack saw Katrina Nicholson denied from close range but also sustain a serious looking injury in the process. Buckingham had the better of opening quarter and created a number of other half chances but no real clear cut scoring opportunities. The visitors had their first shot on the twenty minute mark but it was from a tight angle and Ella Jackson saved comfortably. Jackson was called upon to make a smart stop shortly afterwards following a cheap turnover but once again she was equal to the task. Buckingham responded immediately, going straight down the other end where Welsh international Hannah Cozens was denied following a fine passing move. Phoebe Richards had a another shot stopped after twenty-five minutes and Zoe Shipperley’s fierce strike from the resulting corner was also well saved. Richards was once again denied a few minutes later as the home side piled on the pressure. They finally made the breakthrough on thirty minutes. Some composed play in the D First by Abbie Brant and then Richards resulted in a penalty stroke that was calmly dispatched by Lauren Thomas. However, their lead did not last long. Buckingham switched off on defence two minutes later and the visitors took full advantage to make the score 1-1. Despite this set back, the home side regained the lead just a minute later, following a fine one-two between Cozens and fellow Welsh international and player of the match Eloise Laity, which ended with Laity calmly slotting past the advancing keeper to make the score 2-1. Laity had a deflection well saves shortly afterwards and Cozens saw a spin shot go narrowly wide before half time whistle could sound.
Buckingham began the second half in the same manner they had ended the first. They nearly doubled their lead just two minutes into the half when a fine run by Lottie Porter saw Richards and then Laity come close to extending the lead. Buckingham had another two opportunities to extend the lead when they earned two penalty corners, but on both occasions the visitors averted the danger. Shortly afterwards, Buckingham were temporarily reduced to ten players when Natasha James was green carded and Clifton once again took full advantage of a defensive lapse to draw level with forty-seven minutes gone. However, restored to eleven, Buckingham were back in the lead just a minute later, when a fine run by Alice Rolfe allowed James to tap home from close range. It was nearly 4-2 on fifty-two minutes when a fine run by Richards brought a spectacular diving save from Porter’s shot to deny Buckingham the cushion of a two goal lead. They had another penalty corner after sixty minutes but the rehearsed deflection sailed over the bar. The home side looked comfortable until they were temporarily reduced to ten players for five of the last seven minutes when Leanne Grimsley was yellow carded. Although, they had to withstand some pressure and a controversial last second penalty corner, the side came through to earn a hard-fought and valuable win. The result moves Buckingham up to third in the table and sets up a top of the table match away at three time champions Surbiton on Saturday evening.