English Hockey Association

The last weekend of regular season action in the EHL saw dramatic conclusions in the race to reach the Premiership Finals.

In the Womens Premier Division Fyffes Leicester looked to have blown their chances of progressing after a 3-1 defeat at Canterbury. Olton overtook them thanks to a 5-0 win at Doncaster which condemned the home side to automatic relegation. However they had to wait to learn their fate as a vandalised pitch at Chelmer Park where Chelmsford were due to play Clifton meant that the game could not be played at 1200 noon with all the others but was switched to 1.15 pm at Braintree. Clifton only needed a point to overtake Leicester but succumbed to a solitary Miranda Weeks strike. In the day?s other games Hightown lost 2-1 at home to champions Slough but avoided the play offs because Sutton lost 3-1 to Ipswich to set up a return meeting with Wimbledon.

In the Mens Premier Division Surbiton held on to second spot by winning 3-2 at Canterbury. Cannock are third and could only draw 0-0 at Old Loughtonians for whom Nick Thompson was red carded. Old Loughts finish ninth and Thompson will now miss next weekend?s play off games against Doncaster. The fourth Premiership spot goes to Loughborough but only by a whisker. They pipped Guildford by a better goal difference of just one after both teams won 5-1 on Saturday. Loughborough?s win at Teddington saw a 69th minute goal for Jason Lee and Guildford?s win at Southgate saw a 70th minute strike from Danny Hall who had seen a stroke saved by Southgate?s Adrian Kimber in the first half. The champions Reading finished the season much as they had one for the rest of it by winning, 3-0 against Hampstead.

EHL PREMIERSHIP MATCHES FOR 28 APRIL

Mens
Reading v Surbiton, 1400 hrs
Cannock v Loughborough, 1400 hrs

Women
Slough v Olton & WW, 1130 hrs (at Reading)
Fyffes Leicester v Ipswich, 1245 hrs

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