The big news in the Investec Women's League this afternoon came from the West Conference, where Buckingham dropped their first points of the season. Until today their record was 14 games played and 42 points won. Their nearest rivals in this respect were in the North Conference, where Beeston were six points behind them.
Buckingham's nemesis was Swansea City, sitting in mid table. It must have seemed like business as usual when Buckingham's Zoe Shipperley scored in the ninth minute, but Sophie Clayton equalised for Swansea with a penalty corner just before half time. Kitty Higgins restored Buckingham's lead in the second half, but seven minutes later Bridget Radice score the equaliser for the match to end 2-2. Buckingham is, of course, uncatchable. With three matches left to complete the season they are 13 points ahead of second place Trojans.
At the basement end of the West table, both Staines and Taunton Vale lost this afternoon. The best bottom placed Taunton Vale can hope for is a play-off place to avoid relegation. Staines, who have pulled off a number of last minute escapes in recent seasons, are nine points behind eighth place Barnes and seventh place Stourport, so their prospects look grim too.
A play-off place is all that Slough can hope for as they lost their 14th match of the season this afternoon in the Premier Division. Their opponents in their 5-0 defeat were Bowdon Hightown. Bowdon join a cluster of sides on 27 points. One of these, third place Reading, did not play today. They meet second placed Leicester tomorrow. The other, fourth place Surbiton, won their home match against University of Birmingham, 1-0.
University of Birmingham, who are in eighth place, may not feel quite so secure after ninth placed Olton & West Warwickshire came away with three points from Sutton Coldfield. They have now closed the gap to three points.
Clifton must have wondered what had hit them as first Mel Clewlow, and then Sarah Kerly, found the net for Canterbury in the first four minutes. This was followed up by third Canterbury goal, scored by Jade Mayne. Clifton managed to steady the ship, but could not stop Eliza Brett from making it 0-4 at the finish. Clifton lead the table from Leicester by four points, but Leicester have two games in hand.
Back in the Conferences, Beeston continue to lead in the North, adding three more points to their tally with a 0-4 win away at Liverpool Sefton. They can still be caught by University of Durham, who kept in the race by beating Brooklands Poynton 1-0. They are three points behind Beeston. At the bottom end of the table, 12 points separate sixth placed Brooklands Poynton from seventh place Ben Rhydding, who in turn are only four points ahead of bottom placed Cannock. That mix also includes Doncaster and Liverpool Sefton, so it could be a real scrap as the season draws to a close to avoid relegation amongst that group.
The East Conference can be very competitive, and this season is proving particularly so. Keeping up the pressure in the run in to the end of the season can be difficult, and one of the casualties has been Sevenoaks, who surrendered the lead to Harleston Magpies four weeks ago, and now slip down to third after losing 2-1 at Old Loughtonians this afternoon. Magpies beat Chelmsford 3-1, and Chelmsford now have to find some points to rescue them from an end to long and often successful national league career. They are seven points behind eighth placed Horsham. At least they have the knowledge that they will not be in the automatic relegation spot. This goes to Bromley & Beckeham, who finish 11 points behind them. Bromley & Beckenham's 7-2 defeat at Ipswich means that the Suffolk side move up two places into second. St Albans may have wrecked their chances of overtaking the leaders by losing 2-0 away at Oxford Hawks.
FULL TABLES AND RESULTS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR MAIN WEB SITE AT: www.TalkHockeyRadio.co.uk.
