Holcombe suffered their sixth defeat of their Premier Division campaign as Loughborough Students ran out 3-0 winners at Holcombe Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Olivia Breed gave the visitors the lead inside the first minute and the hosts struggled to create any clear cut chances to level the scores for long periods. 

Pippa Spawforth doubled the advantage from a penalty corner with just under 15 minutes remaining before Madeleine Goodman added a last-minute goal after Tilly Woodhead had been withdrawn with Holcombe chasing the game.

With the victory, Loughborough move into seventh, just two points off the Top Six and four places above Holcs, who are without a win since 28 September. 

Most of their struggles to date had been in attack, with only eight goals in nine games but Loughborough’s early goal – deflecting in via an interception in front of goal – immediately put Brad Read’s side on the back foot on Saturday. 

Holcs’ confidence was knocked immediately and Loughborough took advantage, controlling large swathes of the game – though, away from the goal, did not test Woodhead too much.

The hosts were unable to respond through to the end of the third period as the away side largely kept the ball well, before they scored twice in the final period to take the points as Holcombe threw more players forward. 

Holcs head to Clifton Robinsons on Saturday in a crucial match with two Phase One games remaining. 

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Reading made it nine games unbeaten at the top (seven wins) by winning 2-1 at University of Nottingham, Lorna Mackenzie and Mia Moore putting the visitors 2-0 up before Katie Alexander’s consolation goal in the third quarter. 

Hampstead & Westminster ensured the gap remained at just one point as they beat bottom of the table Sutton Coldfield 5-0 at Paddington Rec with goals from Madi Ratcliffe (2), Lucy Hyams, Tyler Lench and Joanna Leigh. 

East Grinstead, in third, returned to winning ways after a draw last time out. They beat University of Birmingham 1-0 through Biba Mills’ late winner. 

Surbiton were the biggest winners of the weekend as part of their double-header at Bowdon. The Londoners won 6-0 through Erica Sanders (2), Jordan Homann, Liz Thompson, Ellie Mackenzie and former Holcs player Alice Wills. 

Wimbledon needed a fourth quarter comeback to beat Clifton Robinsons 2-1 in south London, with Becky Manton and another former Holc in Sarah Jones both scoring inside the final 12 minutes after Livvy Lane had put the visitors Infront.

Image: Jon Goodall