BASINGSTOKE Hockey Club Ladies fourth team won a five-goal thriller over Southampton University.

On the back of their first defeat of the season, the ladies were keen to be back in the running at the top of the table.

They made hard work of the first half, almost allowing the university girls to take the lead after giving away a penalty flick, but Katie Wade produced a great save.

Beth Flintoff gave the home fans excitement as she hit the crossbar twice and then the upright in the same move, with Milly Raybould’s final back board being disallowed.

Basingstoke finally took the lead just before the halfway mark thanks to a great strike from Karen Binney.

In the second half the University side levelled, before Basingstoke went ahead again from a fantastic team goal scored by Ulrike Meier.

Southampton equalised again, but Megan Payne scored the winner, whose lovely dribble into the D allowed her to shoot into the corner.

The thirds at Yateley took the lead against the run of play when a superb reverse stick pass by Jess Pritchard unlocked Yateley’s defence allowing Tania Bridge to tap home.

Yateley equalised after a string of penalty corners.

In the second half, Yateley scored twice more, but Basingstoke refused to go down without a fight, with Tania Bridge pulling one back, turning in a strike from player of the match Emma Bostock to make for a thrilling finish. However, Yateley held their nerve scoring a fourth goal to win 4-2.

The Ladies fifth team won 3-0 against Trojans in their game this week.

Good possession play and having the upper hand from the onset, allowed for great attacking play.

The fifths found themselves up 1-0 at half-time, thanks to a fantastic strike from Jenny Rust.

In the second half, Basingstoke continued with great intensity with Rust scoring her second with a delightful deflection before setting up player of the match Ellie Youngs for her debut goal.

A well-deserved 3-0 victory to the fifths.

In other games this week, the ladies seconds won 2-1 against Bournemouth while the ladies seventh team drew 1-1 against Trojans.

The men’s seconds won 3-0 against Fareham and the men’s 5s drew 1-1 against Aldershot.

The men’s 4s lost 4-1 away to Aldershot and Farnham.

The under 16 boys played a tough match against Romsey.

With only 10 players and reduced to nine after an injury the final score was a10-1 win to Romsey.

In their game against Fleet and Ewshot, the under-14 boys drew 2-2.

With Basingstoke coming from behind in what proved to be an exciting game.

Both goals came from Dylan Brockbank, and the boys where unlucky not to steal a win as they camped in the opposition’s half for the remaining 15 minutes of the game.

With presence on the National Hockey stage, Basingstoke Hockey Club continue to seek sponsors, with new and exciting options; if you are interested in becoming a supporter, please contact projectpitch@basingstoke-hockey.com.