On Saturday 8 December, Epsom’s girls ended the season against strong Ardingly opposition but finished on a high with six wins and only two losses.
The 1st XI overcame the conditions and a slow start to dominate their match. Ardingly proved hard to defeat, though, and it took an outstanding reverse hit into the roof of the net from player of the match Liv Wilde (R) to secure a 3-2 win.
The 2nd XI ended their season with their ninth straight win, Rosy Payne (Rv) showing her class with both goals and scoring the goal of the season in a 2-0 win.
The 3rd team marched on to an unbeaten season with a 5-2 win, with five different girls scoring and Claudia Hess (W) standing out.
The 5th XI managed a welcome win 2-0 against Reeds, Scarlett O’Byrne (Rv) scoring both goals.
Strength in depth
In total the 1st-4th team sides lost only two out of 40 matches played this season, while the 4th team did not even concede a goal. The strength in depth of the hockey club at the senior end has been very apparent this season and it has been high-level skill as well as character and a dogged determination not to be beaten that has served them so well.
In the younger age groups the U15As ended the season with 3-1 win with Emily Long (R) scoring twice and Bella Watkins (R) starring as a stirring second half took the girls to their sixth win. They, too, have only lost once on a regular Saturday fixture this season and they can be proud of their performances this term.
The U14As also ended the season with just a solitary loss, dominating their game from the outset to finish 7-0 winners. Farrah Stephens-Martin’s (M) pace and great finishing gave her a hat-trick as the girls put together their best result of the season.
The U14Bs were not to be outdone, also winning 7-0, with Lara Mully (R) and Polly Martin-Webb (M) both scoring twice.
The U13As beat Tormead U13A and an U13 Epsom Hockley Club side in a triangular tournament. Ella Stephens scored two more to take her to the top of the goal scoring charts at Christmas with 19 goals.
The U13Bs and U12As also did well in a triangular against each other and Tormead, both finishing unbeaten.
Across the season, the girls have won or drawn 75% of all their regular matches – an outstanding return, and have improved the results against all schools from this time last year.
