Walden ladies celebrate Stef Mayle's goal

SAFFRON Walden ladies left it late to score the winner in a physical encounter with Canterbury.

Walden dominated, particularly the second half, and should have won by a larger margin but were reliant on Stef Mayle converting a penalty stroke with three minutes remaining to take the points.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring from close range and they had Walden on the back foot, struggling to recreate the fluent hockey of the previous week.

However, Deary and Wahlich started to extert more authority in midfield and gradually Walden’s attackers become more influential. Langridge won a short corner, Mayle’s initial shot was deflected into the air and Deary expertly batted it into the goal to equalise.

Canterbury’s heads appeared to drop and Walden seized the initiative but were unable to convert two further corner attempts. Walden took the momentum they had into the second half and were then aided by the sin-binning of a dangerous Canterbury

forward. With the extra player the hosts were able to open up spaces and play round their opposite numbers. Good interplay between Mayle, Wyatt and Cave saw them create several openings but no-one could force the ball over the line.

Finally, Walden were awarded a flick after Wyatt’s shot was stopped on the line by a Canterbury foot. Mayle stepped up to score for the third week in succession.

There was still time for Canterbury to score but excellent last ditch tackles from Cox, and then Westerhuis, ensured thehosts hung on for the deserved win.