Conference West Buckingham’s fourth attempt to gain
promotion to the Investec Premier Division seemed to be fading this afternoon
when they lost to East Champions Holcombe in today’s Promotion Play-offs at
Reading.
Coming into their second match of the Play-offs with a 4-0
win against Brooklands Poynton under their belt, they suffered a crippling 6-0
defeat which pushes them down into third place in the table, and with the
prospect of a difficult match tomorrow. Buckingham were 2-0 down within the
first 14 minutes, with goals from Leigh Maasdorp and Lauren Osborn. But the real damage was done in the last 12
minutes, when three penalty corners were fired home, the first from Megan
Frazer, followed up by a goal from Laura Unworth and a second from Frazer. The icing on Holcombe’s cake came from a 67th
field goal from Nicci Daly.
In last season’s Play-offs Buckingham finished joint first,
but were ranked third on goal difference, as so just missed out on promotion.
In the other Play-off match Sutton Coldfield moved into
second place in the table after having made a fine comeback against Brooklands
Poyton. The Manchester side had taken a 1-2 lead early in the second half,
thanks to a Kelly Baxter goal. But it did not take long for Emma McCabe to
equalise for Sutton Coldfield, and two minutes later Jane Sixsmith rather
fittingly scored the winner for Sutton.
Tomorrow Sutton Coldfield face Buckingham, and need a win or
a draw to keep their Premier Division status.
In the other match Brooklands Poynton is now a lost cause. Holcombe’s
goal difference assures them of promotion, although they could drop to second
place.
The Promotion Play-offs after two matches: 1. Holcombe 4 pts
(+6), 2. Sutton Coldfield 4 pts (+1), 3 Buckingham 3 Pts (-2), 4. Brooklands
Poynton 0 pts (-5).
