Holcombe women became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the England Hockey Tier One Cup by beating Wimbledon 2s 4-3 at Holcombe Park at the weekend.
A double from Jade van der Zwan (2), plus strikes from Emma Bandurak (penalty stroke) and Hattie Jones edged the Division 1 side through to the last four, with Beeston the only Premier Division side still in the draw.
The two sides met last weekend in the Vitality Division One South and were due to face Southgate and Barnes respectively on Saturday but both games were postponed due to the weather.
Second-placed Holcombe won the previous match 5-1 at Raynes Park High School, this encounter much closer than the league game.
The game lit up with nine minutes remaining when Van der Zwan netted her second.
The Australian broke into the circle and looked to square the ball across goal, the ball deflecting off a defender’s stick.
Holcombe were twice denied as they looked for a fifth before Wimbledon started to push further forward with five minutes to go.
Matilda Woodhead made a good save before the visitors controversially halved the deficit with three minutes remaining. The England under-18 goalkeeper appeared to be obstructed before Emily Barker was able to squeeze the ball in.
Wimbledon squandered a penalty corner just a minute later as the ball hit their own player’s foot in the circle, meaning Holcombe were able to hold on to reach the last four.
EH Cup quarter-final fixtures
EH Women’s Tier 1 Cup
Surbiton 2s v Guildford
Doncaster v Brooklands-Poynton
Beeston v St Albans
(Ties played Dec 16)
EH Men’s Tier 1 Cup
Norwich v Teddington
Bowdon v Beeston
Banbury v Fareham
Clifton Robinsons v Old Georgians
(Ties played Dec 16)
