THE Basingstoke Hockey Club Ladies travelled to take on Reading, and with both teams showed plenty of flair and attacking intent, it was Basingstoke who struck first with Roxy O'Dea beating the Reading goalkeeper from close range.

Reading won a short corner, which they successfully converted, going into the break 1-1.

The visitors scored after half time before much of the team had even touched the ball, Mel Trevaskis pouncing on a Reading backline mistake to go ahead.

Basingstoke continued to press and O’Dea scored her second with some close skills, eliminating the defence at a penalty corner to make the final score 3-1 to Basingstoke and now sit in second place in the league.

The seconds travelled to Eastleigh and went 1-0 up early on thanks to a short corner strike from Sarah Mainprise. They doubled their lead when Amy Shore scored from open play.

The Eastleigh goalkeeper earned her keep, holding further Basingstoke attacks at bay.

Eastleigh grabbed a goal before half time via a long ball. Basingstoke’s Michelle Rounding scored early in the second half, and then the team kept possession to keep the score at 3-2 until the final whistle, leaving the ladies also in second place in their league.

A strong performance from the thirds ensured that second in the league Fleet and Eweshot only took a point home. Katie Hossick opened the scoring at the far post from a fabulous cross from Millie Crass, however Fleet changed the game with two goals before the break. Basingstoke came back, frustrating the opposition with Katie Hossick taking her second to bring the home side level for a fair 2-2 final score.

Aldershot and Farnham hosted the fourths and despite even possession Aldershot were the first to strike.

Basingstoke were quick to respond Karen Binny slapping in an Ulrike Maier cross.

Maier struck another, however the opposition pulled back an equaliser before half time. Basingstoke struck hard and fast as Maier took a swift reverse hit to go ahead.

Beth Bridge flicked Basingstoke’s fourth goal to go two clear, but Aldershot did not give up and scoring four times to win 6-4.

The fifths took on Southampton playing an attacking game, but it took until the second half for a goal from Patricia Flynn to find the net for Basingstoke to win 1-0.

The club’s newest team, the Ladies sixths took on Southampton University who sneaked the first two goals.

Basingstoke got going, and determination saw both Jasmine Payne and Sarah Wakeford score to bring them level.

Miranda Smith in defence made some lengthy clearances, and Jasmine Payne was able to get on the end of a positive move to score again to go ahead. Southampton were quick to equalise and take one more, to finish the game 4-3.

An undefeated top of the league Barnes hosted Basingstoke Men’s first team where the visitors started with the upper hand, Dean Record lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to go ahead.

Barnes took an opportunity at a short corner to pull level, but Basingstoke, enjoying much of the ball and were able to go ahead with Dean Record comfortably slotting the ball into the bottom left.

Basingstoke won a stream of short corners with Dave Stones finding the bottom corner to go ahead 3-1. Barnes nipped round goalkeeper Adam Smith to claw one back. However, Basingstoke were not finished, and caught Barnes on the break with Todd Hutchinson knocking a final low shot to bring the final score to 4-2.

The seconds beat visiting Petersfield 4-1 to maintain top spot, starting strong and moving the ball around the back and making lots of space for the attack. Basingstoke’s Andy Goddard struck first from a penalty corner. Luke Warren flicked Basingstoke’s second also from a penalty corner, past the goalkeeper's right pad.

After the break, a top-D strike from Liam Harrison was expertly stolen by Dan Holding for Basingstoke’s third, and their final goal came again from Harrison, who drew the goalkeeper and passed to Luke Warren onto an open net. Petersfield took the final goal, to end the game 4-1.

The fourths hosted Fareham and from the whistle the game was end to end. Fareham resorted to constant aerials to break down the Basingstoke defence, which won them the first goal.

In the second half Basingstoke continued applying pressure, never giving up and in the last five minutes were rewarded by a Jacques Laurens goal as it ended 1-1 taking Basingstoke into second in the league.

In other results, Men’s 2s drew 2-2 to Fareham and Men’s Vikings lost 4-0 to Alton.

Not such a good week for the Basingstoke youth teams in action, with under-16 girls losing 7-0 to Romsey, under-16 boys losing 11-0 to Southampton.

The under-12 girls lost 2-1 to Andover with Maddie Ripton Palmer scoring, and the under-12 boys lost 6-2 to Yateley, with Paul Lovelock and Ben Wake scoring.

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