Dunmow Ladies 0, Witham 3 DUNMOW Ladies found visitors Witham too strong as they slipped to a defeat on Saturday. A strong start by both teams saw equal possession of the ball but 15 minutes into the game Witham had a break and opened the scoring.

Dunmow Ladies 0, Witham 3

DUNMOW Ladies found visitors Witham too strong as they slipped to a defeat on Saturday.

A strong start by both teams saw equal possession of the ball but 15 minutes into the game Witham had a break and opened the scoring.

Two minutes into the second half Witham took advantage of Dunmow's slow start and scored their second goal.

Although Dunmow had several good runs and attempts at goal they were not rewarded, and Witham wrapped up the scoring from a short corner.

Although Dunmow continued to apply the pressure, they were unable to make the breakthrough.

Sevenoaks U-18 7, Saffron Walden 5

A 12-goal thriller in Kent saw Walden slip out of the England Hockey National Under-18 at the second round stage.

However, Walden can be proud of the superb performance they produced in cold and wet conditions and were unlucky not to force a draw in this end to end encounter.

Walden were quick to start and could have be 4-0 up in the first 10 minutes with some superb hockey being played.

Katharine Langridge scored twice during this superb spell and Kate O Sullivan and Zoe Bull both having chances which were well saved by the Sevenoaks keeper.

Tilly Sleven caused havoc down the right wing and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Sevenoaks weathered this early storm and then started to impose their stamp on the game and scored twice in quick succession and the Saffron Walden defence, superbly marshalled by Laura Sugar held firm and Lorna Charge and Natalie Chandler, ran tirelessly to keep the Sevenoaks attackers at bay.

Gabby Biland tapped in a third for Walden but Sevenoaks responded almost immediately to end the half at 3-3.

It was difficult to see how these teams could maintain this level of quality in the second half but Walden started strongly after the break but could only convert one chance with Langridge completing her hat-trick despite a dominant 15 minute period.

Sevenoaks then upped the tempo and scored three quick goals with their star player driving into the D and hitting some unstoppable shots. Walden did not give up the fight and pulled the match back to 6-5 with a goal from Kate O Sullivan.

With a minute to go Saffron Walden looked to have won a short corner with the whole team pushing forward but their efforts were in vain as Sevenoaks broke away quickly to put the game beyond reach.

Despite the defeat coach Nikki Hood was proud of the performance and demonstrated the quality of the youth teams developed by the junior coaching team.

Brentwood VII 3, Saffron Walden VIII 0

THREE second half goals in a 15 minute spell meant that Walden returned pointless from their trip to Brentwood.

The first half had seen the visitors hold their own and went close to taking the lead after a goalmouth scramble following a penalty corner.

However, a failure to pick up some players in the second half left the goalkeeper exposed.

Saffron Walden came back strongly in the last ten minutes but just could not finish off the chances they created.

St Ives Ladies 1, Saffron Walden V 1

WALDEN put in a forgettable performance away at St Ives in a game of two very different halves.

In the first period Walden's play was disjointed and littered with individual errors, starkly contrasting with the confident, strong passing from St Ives.

The home team's sweeper switched play and her ball distribution set St Ives up into attacking positions, Walden just chasing the ball and trying to break up play.

For all their possession in midfield, though, the Saints did not create an effort on goal, never committing many players into the attacking D.

They eventually took the lead when a firm shot hit a Walden defender on the foot, the umpire played advantage rather than award a penalty corner and this time the St Ives striker undercut the ball into the goal.

Walden's back four defended solidly after the goal ensuring they were only one behind at half time.

After the restart Walden's positive intentions were obvious. Katherine Langridge ran from her own half drawing tackles from St Ives and the forwards harried their defenders into making more mistakes.

Walden had the momentum and the next 25 minutes were played predominantly in St Ives' half, as they seemed happy to sit back and defend their lead.

The visitors started to create more chances, Angharad Barrett coming close, before they won a short corner. Barrett's mishit strike from the top of the D was swept in by Nia Evans who had made a run towards goal having originally injected the ball.

With 10 minutes remaining Walden were the team more likely to steal all three points, but St Ives could have snatched it were it not for a diving save from Nicky Hood and a stop on the line from Jenny Goddard.

As the umpire blew for time a draw was probably a fair result, the point means Saffron Walden remain second in the league, St Ives slip to fifth.