The Old Georgians Ladies 1s travel to Essex this Saturday to face Old Loughtonians in the final fixture, before the winter break, in the Women’s Conference East. Both sides are looking to close the year with a strong performance , and with just two points separating them in the table, this promises to be a closely contested encounter.
Old Georgians currently sit 5th in the standings with three wins, two draws, and four losses from their nine games. Their 11 points leave them ahead of Old Loughtonians, who occupy 6th place, with two wins, three draws, and four losses earning them nine points. A win for Georgians could see them solidify their mid-table position, while Loughtonians will be aiming to leapfrog their rivals.
The Surrey-based side has displayed mixed form over the past five matches. A commanding 5-0 home win against Sevenoaks was the highlight, but narrow defeats to title challengers Teddington (2-1) and Hampstead & Westminster (2-1) have prevented them from climbing further up the table. The attacking flair of Gemma Doran, who scored last weekend, and the composure of Rosie Macpherson from penalty corners will be key to unlocking the Loughtonians defence.
Old Loughtonians, meanwhile, come into this match after a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Wapping. Their season has been marked by resilience, with close results keeping them competitive in a tightly packed mid-table battle. They’ll draw confidence from their opening-day 3-1 victory over Georgians, a match where Madeleine Newlyn starred with two goals. Playing at home, they will be eager to replicate that success and head into the break on a positive note.
Head-to-Head:
The opening-day encounter saw Old Loughtonians leave St George’s College with a 3-1 win. Goals from Madeleine Newlyn and Violet Gray helped the visitors build a commanding lead before Zoe Shephard converted a late penalty corner for Georgians. That result set the tone for the early part of the season, with Georgians needing to regroup and find consistency.
Old Georgians will want to put that performance behind them and show how much they’ve improved since September. Coach Leigh Maasdorp will be looking to her team’s defensive solidity, which has seen them concede just 14 goals this season, to keep Loughtonians at bay.
Form Guide:
Both sides have had mixed fortunes in recent weeks. Georgians have secured seven points from their last five games, including a dominant win against Sevenoaks and a battling 2-2 draw against table-toppers Teddington. Loughtonians, on the other hand, have struggled for wins but have picked up vital points in three draws, including last week’s result at Wapping.
What’s at Stake:
With both teams keen to head into the winter break on a high, this fixture carries significant importance. For Georgians, a win would reaffirm their progress this season and maintain a gap between themselves and the teams below. For Loughtonians, this is a chance to close the gap and move into the mid-table mix.
Pushback is at 15:00 at Old Loughtonians HC. Both teams are sure to bring their best in what promises to be an exciting and evenly matched contest.