Buckingham return to winning ways

After a week off from league hockey Buckingham Ladies were eager to get their campaign up and running again after the disappointment of their two narrow losses to Slough and Swansea in the two weeks prior to the break. On Saturday they welcomed Isca to Stowe. Buckingham got off to a dream start as they opened the scoring in the 2nd minute. Some fine play down the right hand side through Player of the match Leanne Grimsley and Sam Sandham resulted in Alex Naughalty calmly slotting the ball home from close range. In an open and entertaining match Buckingham continued to look the more threatening side although Anna Searle and her penalty corner defensive unit were called upon to preserve the home sides slender advantage mid way through the period from the visitors only penalty corner of the half. Buckingham came close to extending their lead in the 23rd minute after some fine play down the centre by Kitty Higgins and Katrina Nicholson. However Sam Sandham's shot flashed wide of the target. The ladies created another great chance just two minutes before half time but it was well saved by ex Buckingham player Lottie Winnett in the visitors goal.

Buckingham again began brightly and created a fantastic opportunity in the second minute of the second half but they could not convert it and the score remained 1-0. Despite creating a number of other good openings the home side could not find a way through whilst Isca remained a threat from penalty corners. With just five minutes remaining Buckingham conceded a soft penalty corner but once again Searle produced a fine save to deny the visitors an equaliser. Almost immediately Buckingham swept down the pitch at pace through Jess Bloom and when a Sandham cross found Nicholson, she smashed the ball home on the volley to secure all three points. It had been a really positive performance and a return to form, but with leaders Slough winning Buckingham remain 3 points behind in the title race.