Loughborough 2 Buckingham 1

On Saturday Buckingham travelled to Loughborough for a hugely important Investec Premier league fixture. Having won an incredibly tight game 3-1, in the home fixture earlier in the season, Buckingham were only to aware of the challenge that awaited them. Although Buckingham welcomed back Maddy Newlyn from a nine month playing sabbatical in Australia, they were without top goal scorer and co-captain Kitty Higgins due to two broken toes, suffered in last weeks fixture.
In an intense and fast paced opening it was Buckingham who had slightly the better of the early exchanges. However, it was the home side who opened the coring from a fast counter in the sixth minute. Buckingham did well to defend three penalty corners in succession and had a penalty corner of their own on the stroke of quarter time but nether could convert and the score remained 1-0 at the first break.
Buckingham were gradually building their way back into the game and some fine play down the right side by Milly Holme resulted in a fantastic snap finish into the top corner from Tash James on twenty-two minutes. A fantastic counter shortly afterwards involving Katrina Nicholson and James saw the latter's lob sail just over the cross bar as the scores stayed level at half time.
The start of the second half was an even affair but towards the end of the third quarter Buckingham gained the ascendency and enjoyed a sustained period of pressure and came close to taking the lead from a penalty corner at the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter began in much the same vein with Buckingham forcing another couple of penalty corners from which the home goalkeeper made two very important stops. Eloise Laity was given a five minute yellow card suspension shortly afterward but Buckingham managed that period well and in sixth-first minute, a superb long pass out the back from captain and player of the match Zoe Shipperley found Abbie Brant who’s strong carry earned a penalty stroke. Unfortunately Lottie Porters flick was well saved, as the scores remained level. Shortly afterwards an unfortunate deflection resulted in a quick counter for the home side and despite the narrow angle, the resulting shot found its way past a disappointed Ella Jackson in goal. Straight from the push back, Porter saw her diving effort sail just over the cross bar with the home goalkeeper stranded. Buckingham threw everything into the last five minutes and a superb length of the field-passing move looked like it would bring the scores level but it was not to be and Loughborough held on for the win.