Surbiton Ladies were held to a draw in the EHL Conference East top of the table clash at Sugden Road on Sunday, and will be disappointed that they didn’t claim all three points, even though they maintained their one point lead over the second-placed East Anglian side.

In their first season in the national league, Surbiton have showed that they are competitive, and Saturday’s performance was no exception as they took on the defending Conference East champions.

In the first half, the Ipswich defence were put under pressure, forced to clear the ball out of the circle by conceding long corners. In addition, Annabel Driver, Charlotte Anderson, and Jessica Bloom all made important defensive tackles.

In the first minute, Surbiton’s Clarissa Goodwin was unlucky with a reverse stick shot; and ten minutes later, Helen Grant’s reverse stick shot went narrowly past the left post. The home side also tried to find ways through the Ipswich defence by passing the ball around; Minnie James, Grant, and Stephanie Addison unable to find a way through in the sixteenth minute; and James, Addison, Alex Teasdale, and Vicky Bryant also thwarted by the experienced defence two minutes later.

Surbiton’s goal came from their second penalty corner, not from a straight strike, but after James, Grant, and Bryant had all tried to score, Emma Rowland-Jones finally succeeded in the 29th minute.

Three minutes later, Grant almost doubled the lead, but Caroline Stuart, the Ipswich goalkeeper, made a vital save.

Ipswich regrouped in the second half, but five minutes after the interval, only Stuart prevented them from falling further behind, saving from Bryant, followed by Teasdale’s effort past the right post.

The near-misses seemed to act as a wake-up call, as from the hit-out, Ipswich advanced upfield to equalise, Chloe Hunnable finishing off the move in the 41st minute.

However, having got themselves back in the game, within two minutes, they were almost back to square one, conceding a penalty stroke after Bryant had her stick taken away by an Ipswich defender when trying to shoot on goal. Rowland-Jones, who had previously scored from the spot at Horsham, this time uncharacteristically missed the target, the ball ending up past the left post.

Later in the game, Surbiton had two power-play opportunities as Ipswich players were temporarily sent to the sin-bin. First, Hunnable, having previously been shown a green card, was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute. Then with just over five minutes remaining, Izzy Sheldake also paid a visit to the sin-bin, returning to the pitch with seconds remaining. Even with a one player advantage, Surbiton couldn’t find the winning goal.

Former leaders, Chelmsford,, won 2-1 at St. Albans to join Ipswich, one point behind Surbiton, but they stay third on goal difference.

The England Hockey League season reaches the halfway point next weekend, Surbiton travelling to St. Albans for their second of four Sunday league matches (push back 1.30 p.m.) SURBITON LADIES: Davies (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Gordon, Jenkins, Robinson, Rowland-Jones, Tait, Goodwin, Grant, Teasdale, Bryant,. Subs: Addison, Ford, James, Garne (did not play), Tranquille-Day (did not play).

Maidstone Ladies 1 Surbiton Ladies 5 Surbiton Ladies avoided a giant-killing performance by East League Premier Division leaders, Maidstone on Sunday, to reach the England Hockey Board Women’s Cup Quarter-Finals for the second season running, and be rewarded with a home tie against EHL Premier Division side, Reading on 20 February.

Surbiton took a thirteen player squad to Kent, giving a first team debut to Jemma Norton. In gloomy conditions, the visitors made a bright start, forcing three penalty corners in the first five minutes. Surbiton took the lead from the third, Vicky Bryant scoring in the fifth minute.

Midway through the first half, the floodlights were switched on, and within three minutes, Maidstone trailed 2-0, Caroline Ford becoming the latest Surbiton player to score her debut goal for the club, from open play.

In the 27th minute, Maidstone’s hopes of pulling off a shock win had all but evaporated as Abi Robinson scored Surbiton’s third goal, also from open play.

Most of the second half was played in heavy rain, but the deluge failed to dampen Surbiton’s spirits, as five minutes after the break, Emma Rowland-Jones scored from their fifth penalty corner to extend the lead to 4-0.

Maidstone didn’t give up, and having previously forced saves from Surbiton goalkeeper, Asha Tranquille-Day, were eventually rewarded for their efforts in the 50th minute, Cara Jones giving the home supporters something to cheer, from the team’s third penalty corner.

The goal was only to prove a consolation, as two minutes later, Surbiton went 5-1 ahead, Bryant scoring her second goal of the match from Surbiton’s seventh penalty corner. Maidstone goalkeeper, Jenny Vincent, was responsible for ensuring that Surbiton didn’t add further goals en route to the quarter-finals.

SURBITON LADIES: Tranquille-Day (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Garne, Jenkins, Philp, Rowland-Jones, Robinson, Norton, Ford, Morgan, Bryant,. Subs: Grant, Teasdale.