An injury received during training has kept her off the stats for a few weeks but she was back with a vengeance today when Bowdon Hightown visited Chelmsford in the Slazenger EHL Women’s Premier Division. Although Chelmsford were first to find the net – only to see their attempt disallowed as it was adjudged to have been struck from outside of the ‘D’ - Tina Cullen was back in scoring mode with less than four minutes on the clock with a well taken field goal at full stretch (see our photo). Bowdon have had some high scoring wins of late – their average for the season stands at an impressive four goals per match – but the early encounters gave little clue that this might be one of them. Cullen enjoys space and she was given plenty of it. But it was team-mate Julie Hope who scored Bowdon’s second. It seemed that a Lynn Bollington goal for Chelmsford in the 23rd was a catalyst for further effort by Cullen and her team. Bowdon’s third went in two minutes later off the stick of Cullen, followed by a fourth from Fay Nash just before half time. When you’re down on your luck the breaks never seem to come, and a difficult bouncing ball five minutes from time eluded a Chelmsford defender and Cullen was there to steal it and pop it in the net. Cullen made her tally for the match four just before the final whistle. Some of Chelmsford’s frustration in this match was evident when one of their players received their marching orders for swearing at umpire Dawn Henning. This is not the best I have seen Bowdon Hightown play. Lord help any team that faces them when they are truly on song.
Elsewhere in the Premiership Olton and West Warwicks lifted their prospects with a 7-0 win over Old Loughtonians. Canterbury’s visit to Ipswich saw them come away empty handed, with goals from Becky Baker and Leisa King relegating the Kent side from fourth to sixth in the table. Currently Bowdon Hightown lead by one point ahead of Slough. There is then an eight point gap, with Leicester in third place, separated on goal difference from Ipswich. Lowly Poynton remain bottom on one point after their 1-0 defeat by Slough.
SLAZENGER EHL WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION;
Chelmsford 1 – 6 Bowdon Hightown
Ipswich 2 – 0 Canterbury 0
Leicester 1 – 1 Clifton
Old Loughtonians 0 – 7 Olton & West Warwicks
Slough 1 – 0 Poynton.
In Division One Sunderland remain top after their win at Durham University. Sutton Coldfield slipped back into fourth place after losing to fellow promotion contenders Trojans 2-3. Reading have found their winning ways again with 4-1 win over bottom placed Harleston Magpies, and move into third.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MATCH BETWEEN CHELMSFORD AND BOWDON HIGHTOWN WILL APPEAR ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE (WWW.TALKHOCKEYRADIO.CO.UK) TOMORROW (SUNDAY). UPDATED LEAGUE TABLES WILL APPEAR ON MONDAY.
