Holcombe 3 Buckingham 3

With the sides so closely matched in the table (4th and 5th) this was always going to be a tight match. The first half was a very even affair with very few chances. However, it was the home side who opened the scoring after twenty minutes when an innocuous looking shot somehow founds its way through a number of defenders at the top of the circle and into the bottom corner. This was a double blow as Buckingham had lost captain Kitty Higgins with a nasty looking ankle injury shortly beforehand. Given all this Buckingham responded well and were on level terms two minutes before the break. A raking diagonal pass from Zoe Shipperley found Frankie Scott and although her cross was deflected up, Abbie Brants neat volley steered the ball high into the net.
The second half did not start well, when another disputed decision went against Buckingham and resulted in a penalty corner for the home side. Despite the initial shot being well saved, Buckingham failed to clear and GB international Ellie Wotton was on hand to volley home for her second of the game. Buckingham responded immediately. They went down the other end and earned a penalty corner but Lauren Thomas’s strike was well saved. Buckingham dominated the next ten minute period and Brant was denied her second by a fine reaction save. Holcombe then earned a couple of penalty corners but the visitors defence stood firm. Buckingham were rewarded for all their efforts when a swift counter attack involving Alice Rolfe and Phoebe Richards resulted in Eloise Laity sweeping the ball home to bring the scores level with just over ten minutes remaining. Ella Jackson produced a fine diving save a minute later to ensure the score remained 2-2 but a a defensive lapse with seven minutes to go allowed Holcombe an opportunity and the took full advantage, deflecting the ball high into the roof of the net to take the lead once more. However Buckingham would not lie down and with player of the match Hannah Cozens to the fore, threw everything at Holcombe in the last few minutes. They created a couple of chances and then a penalty corner right on the final whistle. Much to team and the travelling supported delight, Thomas fired the ball home into the bottom corner for a deserved 3-3 draw.

I was really pleased with the performance, especially considering how frustrating the last couple of weeks have been. Holcombe are a quality side full of internationals but we gave as good as we got and showed fantastic character and resilience as well as great composure to execute under pressure in the final moments. Shows that we have learned from the experiences form the pas few weeks and bodes well for what will be a tense and tight run in with a large number of sides in contention for the top four playoff places. The result means that we remain in fifth and in the hunt for a spot in that top four. Weather permitting, we have a very tough home fixture at Stowe on Saturday, against sixth placed Bowdon.