Holcombe fell to 4-1 defeat away to Hampstead & Westminster as Nick Bandurak’s side suffered their first Premier Division defeat of the season.

The hosts took an early lead through Rose Tynan before fellow New Zealander Olivia Shannon netted her third goal in as many Holcombe matches to level the scores inside the first ten minutes.

Madi Ratcliffe, last season’s Premier Division top-scorer, re-established the Londoners’ advantage seven minutes before half-time with unanswered goals in the third and fourth quarters from Lucy Hyams and then Sofia Martin securing the three points for David Cooper’s outfit.

Tynan put Hampstead in front from close range as she finished from Ratcliffe’s pass into the circle within just two minutes of pushback before Shannon slotted home from a penalty corner just inside the post to keep up her scoring streak.

The Paddington Rec outfit hit the post before the first break but the two sides went in level at a goal apiece.

Ratcliffe, who played for Holcombe in their Super 6s Division One triumph in January, gave the home side their second lead of the afternoon as she tapped home a close-range rebound following Tilly Woodhead’s low save. 

The first half ended with a Holcombe penalty corner which was deflected over the bar, ensuring that Cooper’s team went in ahead.

Chances in the second half were few and far between, though, as the two sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

It took nine second half minutes before the next goal came, with Hyams’ shot deflecting in off the bar before Martin found the top corner at the death, extending the lead in the 68th minute.

The defeat leaves Holcombe fifth with six points from their first three matches, yesterday’s victors having leapfrogged them into fourth on goal difference. 

Bandurak’s side take on the University of Birmingham, who are eighth with three points, next weekend at Holcombe Park (16:00) as part of another double-header, with Holcombe’s men set to face Old Georgians (18:30).

The university side could include former Holcs Lottie Bingham and Izzy Shelley, who both played in Saturday’s 6-0 defeat to table-topping Reading.

Premier Division results:

University of Nottingham 3-5 East Grinstead

Sutton Coldfield 3-5 Loughborough Students

Clifton Robinsons 1-3 Bowdon

University of Birmingham 0-6 Reading

Hampstead & Westminster 4-1 Holcombe

Surbiton 1-2 Wimbledon