EKL Premier Division – Week 12
KV 14-10 NOMADS – Referee: Toby Parsons
The first match of the day took place at Medway Park in Gillingham between 3rd placed KV from Kent and 6th placed Nomads.
Nomads were looking to make it back-to-back victories in the league to keep them in the running to reach the end-of-season play-offs.
KV ran out eventual winners 14 goals to 10. The two points for the win move KV onto 17 points and secures the team 3rd place in the league and a play-off place for the end-of-season play-offs.
Nomads from Epsom, Surrey are still able to secure 4th place in the league and the final play-off place – however they’ll have to win their remaining two matches vs Kingfisher and Bec and rely on other results going in their favour.
BIRMINGHAM CITY 16-32 BEC (HT 6-13) – Referee: Dean Woods
Bec travelled to Bromsgrove School’s impressive sports facilities in Birmingham for an early afternoon match against Birmingham City. Bec were clinical and scored 32 well worked goals as they power on towards the end-of-season playoffs.
Birmingham impressed scoring 16 goals against many people’s title favourites.
Jess Beale, Birmingham City’s player/coach said: “A thoroughly enjoyable game. Bec started strongly going into a 7-0 lead but we then hit our stride scoring 5 well worked goals.
“Going into halftime with a 6-13 deficit we looked the happier team.
“The game finished 32-16 and we achieved our aim of scoring 15 goals against a strong BEC team.
“We’re hitting really good form and looking forward to finishing our season strongly against KV in two weeks then Kingfisher at the Kent MGV.”
Speaking after the match Bec’s head coach Dave Buckland said: “Very pleased with todays game against Birmingham. The goals we scored were very creative and a pleasure to watch.
“Hitting 32 goals of which 29 were from open play. Birmingham deserved the goals they scored and I am sure they will pick up points in the last 2 games.”
Bec and England senior international Caitlin Fitzgerald said: “Overall a good performance from the team with goals coming from everyone on the pitch. It was nice to see what we’ve been working on in training put into practice on court.
“Our defence should have been tighter at times but Birmingham scored some well worked goals. We will look to continue to train hard in the build up to the playoffs”
KINGFISHER 23-23 NORWICH KNIGHTS (HT 10-12) – Referee: Azi Seiber
Norwich Knight’s head coach Joe Stirling: “There were a full range of emotions experienced in a thriller. We were 3 down, 4 up and then 3 down again with 5 minutes to play.
“Overall our general performance was the best it has been this calendar year and that is as important to us as the result which keeps our destiny in our own hands.
Another positive was the attitude of the whole squad of 20 that travelled down together, this kind of atmosphere will help to maintain momentum through yet another break between games.
Vogwill, Debenham and Seymour joint top scored with 5 as goals came from everywhere in the team.
Team Captain Seymour said “A well fought out battle between two every evenly matched teams. A loss for either team would have been unfair so a draw does justice to both teams good performance.
We put together one of our best performances of the season and will be proud of the effort and result.”
Knights remain in 4th place in the league on 11 points, one ahead of 5th placed Kingfishers.
Knights final two matches in the league are against Trojans (29 March) and Tornadoes (12 April).
Kingfisher’s still have to play Nomads (29 March) and Birmingham City (12 April).
TORNADOES 21-27 TROJANS – Referee: David Bond
Corinne Buckland, Tornadoes coach: “Okay we lost but they [Trojans] had the work for it. Compare this score with the one we had against them the first game; 10-27 this time we scored 11 more goals: 21-27. It says it all!
“I couldn’t be any more proud of them. It was even all the way round except the last 10 minutes. Team performance!!
“We have a break now, but not for all our players, some of our youngster are off to the U17 World Cup. And with a performance of them today, they will have all the confidence they need.”
Trojans move onto 20 points in the league and remain in 2nd place, two points behind leaders Bec and three points ahead of 3rd placed KV. Tornadoes remain in 7th place in the league on eight points.
Tornadoes final two matches of the league are against Bec (29 March) and Norwich Knights (12 April).