At the halfway point of the England Hockey League season, there is still no clear indication which team will be Conference East champions at the end of the season. With only one point separating the top three teams, and the fourth team only three points behind the leaders, the race to the championship looks set to go down to the wire.

Surbiton Ladies still lead by one point after their win at St. Albans on Sunday, but their nearest challengers are now Chelmsford, who replaced Ipswich in second place on goal difference after a 5-1 win at bottom side, Dereham. Ipswich came from behind to beat Horsham 2-1 at home. Sevenoaks are still in contention in fourth place after a 2-1 home win over Harleston Magpies.

Surbiton travelled to a chilly Hertfordshire to play St. Albans, who in turn are battling to avoid finishing in ninth place, and qualify for a relegation playoff spot. Surbiton were missing Maddie Tait; and penalty corner specialist, Emma Rowland-Jones, but Jessica Brooker returned to the team as the main corner striker.

St. Albans have yet to win at home in the league, but after defending a penetrating run by Brooker into the circle; spent the first ten minutes putting the visiting defence under pressure.

Surbiton survived, and then counter attacked, Brooker trying to find Kelly Morgan in the circle. Surbiton’s first penalty corner opportunity came following an error by St. Albans’ defender, Kate Dobson, but Brooker could only strike the ball past the left post.

Both Helen Grant, and Vicky Bryant ran at the home defence, with Bryant’s attack initiating a run of three successive penalty corners. Alex Teasdale and Grant linked together to try and outwit the St. Albans’ defenders, but home goalkeeper Anthea Oatridge, and some wayward shooting ensured that Surbiton came up empty.

Surbiton eventually broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval, Brooker at last finding her rhythm from their fifth penalty corner to smash the ball past Oatridge and against the backboard.

In the second half, St. Albans went in search of an equaliser, but Surbiton doubled their lead in the 51st minute, Bryant positioned at the right post to deflect a Grant shot into the net.

Seven minutes later, Brooker almost added Surbiton’s third goal, but her strike from their sixth penalty corner rose above the backboard, therefore the goal was disallowed. Brooker was not to be denied a second goal however, and with three minutes remaining scored from the penalty spot, after Grant had been brought down in the circle.

Surbiton play their last league fixture before the mid-winter break, hosting Harleston Magpies on Saturday (27 November) push back 12 noon. When the teams met in Norfolk in September, goals from Grant and Bryant gave Surbiton a 2-0 away win.

SURBITON LADIES: Tranquille-Day (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Gordon, Jenkins, James; Robinson, Goodwin, Bryant, Grant; Teasdale, Brooker. Subs: Addison, Ford, Morgan, Garne.