Surbiton Ladies’ hopes of causing a cup shock in the Women’s Cup Final were ended by three Bowdon Hightown goals in six second half minutes, the Premier Division side eventually running out 4-1 winners at Cannock on Saturday, to lift the cup for the fourth time in six seasons.

Surbiton were without Helen Grant, who has announced her retirement from regular first team hockey due to the knee injury which forced her to retire from international hockey in 2008, but welcomed back Maddie Tait, who had been sidelined with a stress fracture since February.

Encouraged by a large number of supporters who had made the journey to Staffordshire, Surbiton were competitive in the first half although Bowdon Hightown were the better team; and only trailed 1-0 at half time thanks to Tina Cullen’s hard strike from the right of the circle, which beat Asha Tranquille-Day in the thirteenth minute.

Dulcie Davies replaced Tranquille-Day in goal at half time, and after the Surbiton defence held out for fourteen minutes after half time, Bowdon Hightown stepped up a gear to put the game beyond Surbiton’s reach. Cullen was in perfect position on the left of the circle to convert a penalty corner and score her second goal of the game in the 49th minute. Sally Walton then scored twice in two minutes, first from close range in the 53rd minute, followed by a reverse stick strike into the top left corner which gave the Northern side a four goal lead.

Surbiton didn’t deserve to be four goals in arrears, and within a minute of Walton’s second goal, had pulled a goal back, Abi Robinson scoring from the edge of the circle with a fantastic strike to loud cheers from the Elmbridge side’s supporters.

Surbiton could have closed the gap further, had it not been for Bowdon Hightown’s goalkeeper, Amy Tennant, who was forced to make late saves, including a double save from Amy Bryant and Maddie Tait.

However, it was Bowdon Hightown’s captain, Nicky O’Donnell who climbed the steps to collect the cup, but not before Surbiton’s captain, Vicky Heptonstall, led her team to collect their runners-up medals.

Surbiton can be proud of their achievements this season, and although they finished as runners-up in both league and cup, now have a base from which to work towards their target of promotion to the England Hockey League Premier Division.

SURBITON LADIES: Tranquille-Day (GK); Heptonstall (Capt.), Garne, Jenkins, James, Royce, Rowland-Jones, Robinson, Goodwin, V Bryant, A Bryant. Subs: Addison, Davies (GK), Holmes, Morgan, Tait.