The women have long complained about the exclusion of their semi-finals from Wembley ever since the Maxifuel Super Sixes Championships moved there two years ago. But last night provided two high power and exciting matches in front of a reasonable crowd, with matches more entertaining than some of the women's semi finals from the days at the NIA.
The matches showed a uncanny similarity, inasmuch as the side that was losing made a desperate last minute attempt to rescue the position. However, the two matches were to end quite differently.
Reading had dominated in their match against the holders, Leicester, and had a comfortable lead for most of the match. But the final score of 3-2 to Reading demonstrates the nail biting finish the crowd were treated to.
The situation had been much the same in the match between Sutton Coldfield and Bowdon Hightown. In the dying seconds of the match, and at 3-2 down, Sutton had put on Jenny Parkinson as a kicking back. It was Parkinson who equalised from the penalty spot. And, with virtually nothing left on the clock, in the melee following a penalty corner, a shot from Vicky Woolford seemed to hang tantalisingly in the air before the falling into the Hightown goal. The hooter sounded almost immediately. Final score 4-3 to Sutton Coldfield.
Sutton Coldfield will meet Reading at the Finals at Wembley on Sunday 27 January.
PICTURES FROM THE MATCHES WILL BE ON www.HockeyImages.co.uk later today.
