Cambridge City Hockey Club’s first team keep faint England Hockey Women’s Conference Midlands title hopes alive

Cambridge City kept their faint England Hockey Women’s Conference Midlands title hopes alive with a 3-2 home win over Beeston II on Saturday.

Goals from Emma Shinkin, Holly Dean and Evie Younger put City in command of an encounter that marked captain Vicki Franks’ final home match following the announcement that she is to retire at the end of the season after 28 years of playing for the first team.

However, it was far from a comfortable finish to the encounter as City shipped a couple of goals and picked up two cards.

But they managed to hold out for a victory that keeps them two points adrift of table-topping Repton ahead of their final game of the campaign at Doncaster on Saturday (23 March).

To be crowned champions, City must beat their hosts and hope that both Repton and second-placed St Albans slip up.

Elsewhere, in the East Women’s League Premier Division, Cambridge City II beat Cambridge City III in an inter-club fixture.

Lucy Pendleton, Kara Kilbourn and Emily Clapham were all on target for the second team, who will finish the season as runners-up.

Cambridge City IV are top of the East Women’s League Division 2 North West following their 2-0 home victory over St Ives.

Hannah Worth and Sophie Dargan scored for City, who will seal top spot with a victory this weekend.

Cambridge City VI are also in the hunt for promotion from the East Women’s League Division 4 North West.

They enjoyed a 7-0 win over St Neots III courtesy of goals from Emily Hill (2), Hattie Emerson (2), Jo Howland, Lizzie Kilsby and Cat Smith.

A season to forget continued for Cambridge City in the England Hockey Men’s Division 1 North as they suffered a 12-2 defeat on the road at Brooklands.

Marc Roca handed visiting City the lead before the home side put them to the sword.

Gerritt Farren weighed in with a late consolation for City, who will finish the season bottom of the table.

Also facing up to the prospect of relegation are Cambridge City II after they lost 5-1 at home to Blueharts in the East Men’s League Premier Division.

George Bucknall netted the only goal of the game for a City side that must beat UEA away from home this weekend to stand any chance of preserving their Premier Division status.

Cambridge City III will finish mid-table in the East Men’s League Division 2 North West following their 4-0 home win against City of Peterborough IV.

Isaac Vaughan helped himself to a brace alongside a goal apiece for Simeon Conway-Jones and Samuel Cortinhas.