Cambridge City Hockey Club III secure East Women’s League Premier Division status with 3-0 win over Broxbourne

Cambridge City III secured their East Women’s League Premier Division status thanks to a 3-0 win over Broxbourne last weekend.

The victory has put City out of reach of both Norwich Dragons and City of Peterborough, which in turn means City will be one of just five clubs across the country that have a third team playing at that level of hockey next season.

Maia Polonius opened the scoring for Cambridge before captain Becki Wadsworth slapped in a corner strike to double the lead.

Emma Shinkin then marked her return to hockey after a long injury lay-off with a goal towards the end of the game.

In the same division, Rachel Clark celebrated her birthday with a goal in Cambridge City II’s 2-1 win over Ipswich, which also featured a strike from Sadie Werrett.

In the England Hockey Women’s Conference Midlands, Cambridge City ran out 3-2 winners against Oxford Hawks. Isobel Johnson (2) and Imogen Callaghan were both on target for the runners-up.

Another brace from Alice Beardmore spearheaded Cambridge City IV’s charge towards a 4-1 win at Saffron Walden in the East Women’s League Division 1 North, while in the East Women’s League Division 2 North West, Cambridge City V beat Cambridge University III 2-1.

City were the underdogs having lost the reverse fixture 7-1, but goals from Eloise Hardy and Xanthe Stebbing wrapped up a surprise victory.

Meanwhile, Cambridge City VII celebrated being crowned East Women’s League Division 5 North West champions with a resounding 9-0 win against Wisbech Town IV.

Goals came from seven different scorers as Celia Jones opened the scoring on nine minutes, before getting her second half an hour later. Hattie Emerson scored two goals between the 13th and 14th minutes, while Lizzie Kilsby made it 4-0 in under 20 minutes. Catrina Smith then scored via a tap-in before Jenny Hollman drag flicked the ball high into the net. Lizzie Kilsby closed the scoring with eight minutes to go.

On a more negative note, Cambridge City are facing up to the prospect of England Hockey Men’s Conference Midlands relegation after a 5-4 defeat to University of Nottingham II.