BASINGSTOKE Hockey Club Ladies were optimistic prior to their match against London Wayfarers.

A win for Basingstoke would secure promotion into the national league.

Basingstoke started well, passing the ball at pace and carving out great attacking opportunities.

Midway through the first half Basingstoke were caught on the break and Wayfarers opened the scoring taking an early lead.

Wayfarers grew in confidence, and the remainder of the first half was a close affair with Basingstoke remaining composed with the confidence that goals would come.

Basingstoke's second half performance was superb, showcasing both individual skill and great team interplay.

This hard work was rewarded through several penalty corners, which they struggled to convert until Claire Griffiths powered home a great strike.

Basingstoke continued to put Wayfarers under pressure, pouncing on every opportunity.

Basingstoke intercepted the ball as Wayfarers tried to clear their lines, breaking at pace with Fi Parker eliminating her opponent then finding player of the match Roxy O'Dea in the circle, who did not hesitate in slotting the ball past the goalkeeper, scoring Basingstoke’s second goal.

Basingstoke were in control of the game leading 2-1, but Wayfarers were not going down without a fight, piling on pressure in the final minutes of the game, crossing the ball from the left side of the pitch which deflected high into the circle and a controversial penalty corner was awarded to Wayfarers.

In the final play of the game Wayfarers dampened Basingstoke’s hopes with an equaliser and the game ended with a 2-2 draw.

Basingstoke still have one game against Witney with which to secure promotion.

The thirds had two games this weekend to get the points needed for safety in their division.

Saturday’s game was against promotion chasing Fleet and Ewshot with the meanest defence in the league. Basingstoke played well as a team and worked hard to keep the opposition at bay.

However, Fleet and Ewshot were by far the much stronger team and ran out 3-0 winners and looking to win the division.

In their second game on Sunday, a rearranged match against the Isle of Wight, the thirds were looking for a win to secure their division two status.

They started with tenacity and determination, taking the lead after Jasmine Payne took on three of the opposition’s defenders before slotting home Basingstoke’s first goal.

Within 10 minutes Isle of Wight had equalised from a harshly awarded penalty stroke.

However, the thirds showed character by regaining the lead just before half time through Nicola Burridge.

An injury left Isle of Wight with only 10 players and the thirds took the game to them in the second half with Tania Bridge adding a third and Nicola Burridge a fourth in a 4-1 win and another season in division two.

The fourth team travelled to third placed Fleet and Ewshot, needing a win to become league champions with a game in hand.

The game started off with great team work when the first goal was scored on a rebound off the goalkeeper by Ulrike Maier.

Just before half time Ella Boyd hit a lovely ball down the middle of the field where two players were waiting, and great team play got Maier’s second goal.

Ellie Rixon scored the teams third goal, and with three minutes left of the game Maier dribbled into the D, and reverse sticked while diving on the ground and the ball went over the goalkeeper into the goal for her hat-trick.

This win crowns Basingstoke fourths as champions.

The fifths had two games this weekend. In their Saturday game against Alton, Basingstoke drew 2-2.

This was an evenly matched game with both teams having great opportunities to break and score, with Basingstoke’s cracking goals coming from Amy Rowe and Lyn Wood.

Sunday’s postponed game was against top of the league Hamble, who had an air of confidence about them from the onset, however the fifths weren’t going down without a fight and gave Hamble a hard time with greater possession play.

Basingstoke tried but struggled to find the back of the net, whereas Hamble were lucky to get two goals from counter attacks and quick breaks to win it 2-0.

The sixth team played Haslemere for their penultimate league match.

Haslemere were dominant opening the scoring early on.

Basingstoke’s defence was constantly on the back foot and couldn’t stop Haslemere’s second goal just before half-time.

In the second half, Basingstoke bounced back determined to get something from the game.

Their hard work led to Megan Payne scoring their only goal.

Haslemere continued to trouble Basingstoke, pinning them in their own half regaining their two-goal lead after converting a penalty corner, putting them 3-1 ahead.

Basingstoke tried, but couldn’t find an answer, and the game concluded with a 3-1 victory to Haslemere.

In the men’s games this week the men's 1s won 1-0 against Walcountians with Dean Record getting his name on the scoresheet.

The seconds won 5-3 away to Havant. A great home game from the men’s thirds who won 3-0 against Southampton University to win the league.

In a hard-fought game, the men’s 5s narrowly lost 5-4 against Petersfield.