Holcombe earned a point in a difficult match at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday in their latest Phase One match to leave Brad Read’s side ninth in the table. 

The draw arrested a run of four straight defeats following two wins from two at the start of the campaign.

Holcombe started the better of the two sides, dominating possession for long spells early on but the visitors struggled to create many clear cut chances, especially from open play. 

In the first quarter, their only chances came from penalty corners with Robyn Hodges and Tessa Reid both having efforts at goal saved. 

It was more of the same dominance in the second quarter, too, though Sutton Coldfield did hit the post on the break before a Holcombe counter-attack involving Eloise Richards, Tilly Tillings and Mads Newitt ended with the latter’s effort being cleared off the line. 

Olivia Shannon also broke through the last line with good skill but saw a lifted effort saved before the half was up. 

Shannon was also involved in the goal – another driving run got her into the circle in space and the New Zealander squared for the returning Leisa Randall to prod home past the onrushing goalkeeper. 

Hannah Bond came close to doubling the lead as she saw a reverse effort well-saved before the hosts started to push more players forward and respond with some pressure of their own, forcing Tilly Woodhead into action on more than one occasion towards the end of the third quarter. 

At the start of the final period, though, Holcs looked the most likely to make it a two-goal game with Newitt, Shannon and then Bethan Hodges via a deflection all coming close. 

However, three minutes from time, it was the visitors who added that all-important next goal as Susan Wood struck home from a penalty corner to level the tie. 

Holcs did have one final chance to take the three points but Marian Ledesma fired over on the reverse late on. 

Elsewhere across the top-flight, leaders Reading saw Hampstead & Westminster close the gap at the top of the table. Reading drew 1-1 with eighth-placed Wimbledon with Anna-Ross Gabbitass giving the table-toppers the lead before Katie Birch equalised in the final period. 

Hampstead beat strugglers Clifton Robinsons 6-0 in the south west with former Holcombe goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard keeping her third clean sheet of the season in seven matches. 

Lucy Hyams scored a hat-trick for the Londoners alongside goals for Sofia Martin, Rose Tynan and Madi Ratcliffe. 

East Grinstead are only behind the Paddington Rec side on goal difference following a 4-2 win against Bowdon with goals from Biba Mills, Lily Walker, Summer Knight Thompson and Mollie Mason. 

Bowdon’s goals came from Rebecca Birch and Georgia Carroll. 

Surbiton, the champions, stay fourth after a 3-2 win over Loughborough Students in which they trailed twice through goals from Rowena Hearn and Kirsten Oudshoorn but Charlotte Ross and Ellie Mackenzie levelled on separate occasions before Darcy Bourne scored a late winner to make up for an earlier missed penalty stroke. 

In the university match up, things ended all square at two apiece between Nottingham and Birmingham. 

Maddie Long gave the home side the lead after just three minutes with Birmingham responding quickly through Lily Sokhi. Monica Watkins put Notts back in front after just 10 minutes, with Birmingham equalising with six minutes remaining in the match via Sarah Parkinson-Mills. 

Image: Eva Gilbert