Cambridge City Hockey Club enjoy largely positive start to new National and East League seasons

Cambridge City started the new England Hockey Women’s Conference Midlands campaign last weekend with a 2-0 victory over St Albans.

City, who finished third last term, had goalkeeper Heather Elder to thank for giving them a platform to go on and win the contest after she made a string of saves.

Emily McStea netted the opening goal just before half-time, while Jess Tuff slotted home a penalty corner to secure all three points.

Elsewhere, in the East Women’s League Premier Division, the honours went the way of Cambridge City II in their inter-club opener against Cambridge City III.

Rachel Millington-Clark’s tap in and a penalty corner from Emily Clapham secured a 2-0 win for the seconds.

In the East Women’s League Division 1 North, newly-promoted Cambridge City IV thrashed visiting Dereham II 6-1.

Becky Livings (2), Holly Sheahan, Eva King, Immy Tooley and Fran Hawkins were all on target for the triumphant City side.

Two goals from Abbey Cotton earned Cambridge City V a 2-1 win from their trip to Kettering in the East Women’s League Division 2 North West, while Cambridge City VI had to settle for a 2-2 draw from their clash with Kettering II.

Sam Surridge and Becky Hennell notched for City in the East Women’s League Division 3 North West fixture.

Meanwhile, Cambridge City had an England Hockey Men’s Conference Midlands opening encounter to forget as they went down 5-0 at home to St Albans.

Cambridge City II fared better in the East Men’s League Division 1 North thanks to a 5-3 win at Long Sutton.

Ben Dudgeon fired in four of City’s goals alongside one from Ollie Dalzell.

Sam Courtinhas (2), Tom Goldsmith and Cammy Small all scored for Cambridge City III as they beat Spalding II 4-0 in the East Men’s League Division 3 North West, while in the same division a hat-trick from David Madden helped Cambridge City IV to beat Long Sutton II.

Rich Wainwright, who had not played hockey for 13 years, also scored a hat-trick in Cambridge City V’s 8-0 victory at March Town II in the East Men’s League Division 4 North West.

Bertie Beeching, Ben Willington, Doug Williamson, Tom Hill and Charles Hill also scored.