Beeston Ladies started their season with a bang beating Wimbledon, who many have tipped for the title, 2-1 away from home on the opening day. This marked the first time Beeston ladies have beaten Wimbledon at Raynes Park.
Wimbledon started the stronger of the two sides and dominated the early proceedings, and despite a series of penalty corners, the home side failed to seriously test the Beeston goal.
Lucy Mackey, who would go on to win player of the match was starting her first game for Beeston and making her Premier Division debut martialled the defence well in the early exchanges and helped manage the pressure.
As the game went on, and entering the second corner, with Wimbledon failing to capitalise Beeston began playing their way into the game and start to control the flow of the game. The composed back line of Hannah Grieve, Lucy Mackey, Lauren Dunn and Lottie Summers connected well with their midfield teammates and became to gain territory.
Late on in the second quarter some smart play down the right resulted in the ball falling to Mads Newitt on the back post who finished first time for Beeston past Nicki Cochrane in the Wimbledon Goal.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with Wimbledon taking control and pushing forward aggressively. Beeston goalkeeper was called upon to make routine saves but wasn’t seriously tested. It took a counterattack down the left for Wimbledon to fashion their first clear cut chance of the game with Becky Manton scoring on her debut for Wimbledon to bring the home side level.
The game ebbed and flowed and the game looked to finish with a draw, given the lack of clear cut opportunities for both sides this seemed like a likely and fair result, in the 68th minute with 90 seconds remaining, Beeston captain Lauren Burrell, who had been superb through midfield who the ball and started a lighting quick counterattack the ball fell to Cerys Miller in the circle who finished calmly to secure 3 points for Beeston.
Head Coach James Sordillo said of the game “Wimbledon are a really good side and have ample resources, I would expect them to be up the top end of the league at the end of the season but what we showed today is the spirit and desire of this group of players. I’m really proud of how we played today this is a really special group of athletes and hopefully we can push on and have a really succesful season”
Beeston play their next Premier Division fixture at Nottingham Hockey Centre on Saturday 23rd at 4pm vs East Grinstead.
Bees Squad: Steph Tirrell, Hannah Grieve, Lucy Mackey, Lauren Dunn, Lottie Summers, Lauren Burrell (c), Nic Moss, Bea Bell, Ella Cusack, Jane Kilpatrick, Charlotte Harmer, Nadia Benallal, Mads Newitt, Rosy Stephens, Dizzy Leman, Cerys Miller.
Elsewhere on Saturday the men’s team were beaten 5-2 at Wimbledon in their season opener, they next play East Grinstead on the same day as the ladies (6pm start).
*Main image @JoIreland Beeston player of the match Lucy Mackey in action.
