Holcombe made it two wins from two upon their return to the Premier Division with a 1-0 win at Bowdon on Saturday. 

New Zealander Olivia Shannon scored her second goal in as many matches since signing over the summer for the only goal of the game as she fired last the goalkeeper from close range in the second half. 

Nick Bandurak’s side had Tilly Woodhead to thank late on, however, as she saved a penalty stroke brilliantly to keep the team’s clean sheet intact after a penalty corner effort was deemed to have hit Emma Bandurak illegally on the line.

Chances were few and far between in the game generally, Holcs coming close in the first half through Mads Newitt hitting the post and Shannon firing a reverse effort just over.

Five minutes into the second half, Shannon picked up a loose pass from Bowdon’s backline in the circle, controlling the ball with time to pick her spot and hit powerfully past Kirsty Shea. 

The penalty stroke came with just eight minutes to go and would have been a late blow to Holcs who had defended so well for long periods. 

Woodhead dived to her right but, with the effort going closer to the middle of the goal, superbly reached up to save in a near-replica of her penalty stroke save away to Slough last season in Division One South. 

Holcs are one of four teams who have won two out of two in the Premier Division and seem to be reaping the rewards of a new back-five set-up, which is making it incredibly difficult for the opposition to create chances. 

This is without New Zealand international and former Oranje-Rood player Hope Ralph, too, who will join later in Phase One to further bolster the forward line. 

Bandurak’s side sit fourth, behind Surbiton, Reading and East Grinstead ahead of facing Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday at Paddington Rec (16:00) as part of a double-header, with Holcombe’s men also playing at 18:00.