A beautiful sunny afternoon at Luxborough Lane seemed to suit Old Loughtonians Women’s 1s as they put in a stunning performance to overcome an excellent Spencer side.

Loughts were determined to put right last week’s disappointing performance and were on top from the first whistle. The first quarter saw Loughts create some excellent openings without being able to apply the finish to give them a deserved lead.

Against the run of play Spencer broke clear and Phoebe Menear was forced to make a last ditch save. However it was deemed that she had made contact with the player and a penalty stroke was awarded. Fortunately for Loughts the stroke went wide for the game to remain goalless.

Maddy Newlyn almost gave Loughts the lead as she broke free waltzed round the keeper only for an excellent goalline clearance to save Spencer.

However with 8 minutes remaining in the first half it was Hannah Bloy who broke the deadlock. Bloy went on an incredible run down the right touchline, along the baseline and then flicked the ball into the roof of the net from an impossible angle.

The final 5 minutes of the third quarter saw Loughts effectively secure the points as firstly a 3 on 1 breakaway produced the second goal as Maddy Newlyn fed Katie Gleeson who dispatched the ball home.

Loughts then won a penalty corner as the third quarter whistle went and Newlyn made no mistake with an unerring strike to make it 3-0.

In a bizarre final 5 minutes of the game Spencer pulled back two consolation goals from penalty corner strikes; the second after time had been called.

The win secures Loughts place in the England Hockey Women’s Conference East for next season and leaves them in 5th place level on points with Spencer with just three games remaining.