Sevenoaks’ nail-biting 1-0 away victory over Harleston Magpies was not without its fair share of drama. Sevenoaks battled against the odds and captain Katy Warrington ended up in A&E after receiving a stick to the face after a storming performance.
The game started as anticipated as Magpies were able to block all that the away team could muster. The Magpies keeper organised their defence well and managed to keep a reverse stick bullet from Flor Zapulla out. The first half saw Oaks dominate with a series of corners that agonisingly didn’t make it over the line. The half ended with a daring tackle from Susie Rowe. After the half time team talk she was awarded a yellow card. Fortunately, Oaks managed to turn being a man down into an advantage and found themselves with a short corner won by player-coach Jen Wilson on the baseline. Lily Elliott inevitably made superb contact with the ball for Jen Wilson to guide it into the Magpies’ goal.
When back to 11 Oaks started to play with a bit more pizzazz and Kath van Woerkem, completed a 60-metre dribble and cruised into the D to nearly put away a reverse stick wonder shot. The last 10 minutes were fraught but Sevenoaks kept their cool with an inspiring smother by keeper Dulcie Davies who, for the fourth game in a row, can boast a clean sheet. The rest of the team managed to battle it out and for the final five minutes Jen Wilson and Kate Reynolds split shifts in keeping the ball in the corner much to the chagrin of the Magpies players.
Next week sees Oaks play third placed Cambridge City at home at 12.00pm in what promises to be an exciting show down.
INVESTEC WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE CONFERENCE EAST CURRENT STANDINGS
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | D | Pts | |
| 1 | Hampstead & Westminster | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 12 |
| 2 | Sevenoaks | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 12 |
| 3 | Wimbledon | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 9 |
| 4 | Cambridge City | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 | Barnes | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 6 |
| 6 | Bedford | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 4 |
| 7 | Harleston Magpies | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 3 |
| 8 | Southgate | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 21 | -17 | 3 |
| 9 | Chelmsford | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 17 | -15 | 1 |
| 10 | St. Albans | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 0 |
