Chelmsford II 3 Tunridge Wells 1

NE14Hockey East Women's League

Premier Division

Chelmsford II 3 Tunbridge Wells 1

CHELMSFORD lined up for a must win game at home this weekend against Tunbridge Wells, who were also precariously positioned in the league and in much need of the three points to keep their East Premier status alive. The home team entered the game on the back of some promising performances over the last couple of weeks and felt confident that, with the support of the home crowd, they would be able to show their true potential.

The game started at a fairly high tempo and never relented, but this was well suited to the pacey Chelmsford forward line of Ally Farrar, Judith Duffin and Poppy Church who troubled the Tunbridge defence from the off. Creating a number of early changes, the home team were able to finally break the deadlock as Farrar found a well-positioned Church unmarked in the D, who was able to sweep the ball on her reverse into the goal. The remainder of the first half saw the two teams well matched, with both creating opportunities. But the visitors were unable to take advantage of a number of short corner chances thanks to some sturdy Chelmsford defending.

The second half started positively for the home team, with some excellent early balls being played all over the pitch. Good distribution from Kath Macdonald in central midfield and Anna Smith in defence helped to open up the gaps in the Tunbridge lines to create space for the greens to play into. Also some solid play between joint players of the match, Sophie Stock in left defence and Lisa Crane in midfield, thwarted the opposition's play down their right hand side.

Chelmsford were able to extend their lead halfway through the second period thanks to some patient build up play and a pin point pass from Georgia Herron to Karen Cooper on the right which split the Tunbridge defence and put Cooper through one on one with the keeper. The keeper did well to save the first attempt, but Cooper made no mistake second time of asking, firing a powerful shot into the bottom corner.

Wells were able to quickly pull a goal back from a well-worked short corner and looked to be finding a way back into the game. However, a quick break from a free hit, coupled with Chelmsford's speed in attack, exposed the Tunbridge defence when some excellent interchanging play between Duffin, Church and Farrar saw gaps created in the visitors D, which Farrar was able to make count.

The game finished 3-1, with an important three points in the bag for Chelmsford who, with three games remaining, need a strong end to the season to avoid relegation.