On Saturday the ladies travelled away for a late afternoon start at East Grinstead. It was the home side who started more brightly and opened the scoring from their first penalty corner in the third minute. With the home side in the ascendency, Buckingham were fortunate not to be 2-0 down shortly afterwards as the home side crashed the ball off the crossbar. Despite East Grinstead having the better of the first half, Buckingham were on level terms just minutes into the second quarter when Abbie Brant fired home from close range after some fine passing. She came close to giving Buckingham the lead just moments later but with neither side able to find another breakthrough, the sides went in all square at half time.
Right from the start of the second half, Buckingham began to play with far more purpose and tempo. They were the dominant force for much of the third quarter and had much the better of the play and created the better chances but just could not find a way through the home goalkeeper. Buckingham were just millimetres away from taking the lead just five minutes into fourth quarter, when a Tash James deflection grazed the post and Brant came nearly as close just a couple of minutes later. In the closing stages both sides had opportunities to take all three points, as both went all out for the win. However, with both goalkeepers in fine form, neither side could find a way through and with Player of the Match Ella Jackson making a superb double save on the final whistle the game ended 1-1.
"Saturday really was a game of two halves. I though EG were very good in the first half but we defended pretty well for the most part and showed great resilience and character to come through the first two periods. In the second half, I thought we were fantastic - especially with the ball. We will look to carry that form into what we know will be a really tough game against Loughborough at home on Saturday."