HC Knole Park’s Women’s 2nd XI lifted the England Hockey Tier 4 trophy after an inspired display saw them defeat Golborne HC 5-0. Two goals from Summer Knight-Thompson, and singles from Evie Smith, Charlotte Watkins, and Celia Foster saw Knole Park win their ninth National Championship of the season!
The young Knole Park side started the game on top and it wasn’t long before Summer Knight-Thompson broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a fine solo effort. Cruising into the D, Knight-Thompson unleashed a ferocious backhand into the bottom corner. Knight-Thompson then doubled the advantage with another superb backhand strike. Golborne created a couple of chances on the break, but Connie Fenwick, Charlotte Smith, Betsy Burden, Cara Gould, and Lucie Jones were able to stop the team from the North-West from causing any major problems.
On the stroke of half-time Evie Smith added a third goal from a well-worked penalty corner move. The ball was slipped back to Smith, by Alessia Turner, and she deflected the ball high into the netting. 3-0 at half-time.
At the start of the second half Charlotte Watkins scored with an excellent strike from a penalty corner for 4-0. Ines Gascoyne-Day, Amie Gould, Alessia Turner, and Mackenzie Ward continued to create chances, but the Golborne goalkeeper was in inspired form. Indeed, despite the best efforts of the Golborne goalkeeper, it was Knole Park who were able to add a fifth goal as Celia Foster latched onto a penalty corner rebound, to smash in a wonderful backhand for 5-0.
Knole Park’s women continued to create more opportunities through the excellent work of Polly Brownlow, Ella Walker, and Matilda Denbow up front, but that’s how the match finished. Cue the celebrations and trophy presentation! Knole Park were crowned National Tier 4 Champions for 2021/22!
Captain, Lucie Jones said: “The team were fantastic! We have had a brilliant post-season Cup run which has been a lot of fun and it was such an amazing experience to play at Lee Valley. It certainly isn’t something I thought I would ever do! We have created lots of memories today and having my family there cheering me on was very special – they’re inspired to do the same now!”
