Bec defeat Nottingham 20-11.

The result puts Bec up to fourth spot.

Wednesday nights HSKL game between Nomads and Trojans was a game that was won, as expected by Trojans but it was also a game that showed how Bec had came so close to defeating the league champions last Sunday.

There are small chinks in the Trojans armoury that are there to be exploited and Nomads will be disappointed to have picked this game to have had an off day.

The loss of Joe Olds to injury before the game started was disruptive and the late start unusual but you would still not have expected the game to have had such a bizarrely low scoring first half. Only five goals troubled the scorers.

The game started at a frantic pace that was indicative of the lack of control that led to both sides’ poor shooting. The defending was hard and good chances were limited.

Although making the scoring opportunity at the top level requires speed and aggression, the actual shot needs balance and composure and the latter attributes were lacking from both sides in the first half.

A goal eventually came from Terry Forde and Trojans soon followed with their own opening goal before a short disruption in play when a Trojans player had to replace a contact lens after a collision.

The tight defence continued to have its impact on the game with poor shooting under pressure and a defended decision given in Terry Forde's favour when he was defending out from a Trojans free throw.

The next goal came from an Emma Cole shot that popped out of the basket before being rapidly recycled to Sytze Bijker to sink the long shot for 2-1.

Trojans responded with a shot from medium distance and after a time out near the end of the first half, Tony Woodvine scored a drop off shot to give Trojans the half time lead.

Both sides no doubt went into the break knowing they had missed an opportunity to capitalise heavily on their opposition’s poor shooting.

The second half started with Terry Forde levelling the scores with a goal from side on to the post but Trojans regained the lead scoring from under the basket.

Kim Jones then made way for Carole Dillon as Nomads attempted to change the game for the better.

Unfortunately for Nomads, Trojans had found their shooting boots and made it 5-3 with a drop off shot, then 6-3 through a penalty and 7-3 with a long distance effort before Nomads could muster a reply with a Bijker long shot.

At 7-4 the game was slipping out of the reds hands and into the black and blue of Trojans and they proceeded to wrench it free from Nomads' grip when they added three further goals without reply.

Coach Jax called her second time out as Nomads tried to regroup and push on.

Emma Cole scored a runner to bring the scores back to 10-5 but Trojans replied with two more goals as they continued to justify their league position with some ruthless finishing.

Simon Cole made it 12-6 before good vision and passing work between Emma Cole and Sam Rowbottom allowed Emma to curve in for another runner. Cole continued her good form with a third goal from long distance but it was to be her and Nomads last goal.

A Trojans free pass made it 13-8 and the game ended as a comfortable win for the team in the top spot.

Nomads were left wondering what might have been if they'd shot well while Trojans faltered with their shooting in the first half but wondering does not win games.

Trojans got their tactics right, shutting out what Nomads wanted to do and picking up enough goals to win.

For now, Nomads hold onto the fourth and final play-off spot but whether Bec defeat Nottingham this Saturday or not, it will still be winner takes all on the 28th of March as Nomads play Bec to decide who goes to Norwich for the play-off finals.

It is, as nobody needs reminding, still possible for Nomads to finish in 7th spot on goal difference if both Kwiek and Kingfishers win their games.

The sporting cliché of everything still to play for rings true again in the 2009/2010 HSKL!

The Seconds were in action before the main event, taking on Trojans 2 and with the news that Joe Olds was unable to play in the First Team due to injury Nomads took the decision to fill the gap left by players moving up with the experience and guile of Gary Olds.

It proved to be a match winning decision in a tight game.

Gary Olds opened the reds scoring but Trojans soon levelled before Nomads opened up a small lead through Ollie Bell and a Brian Carswell penalty.

Trojans pulled a goal back before another Gary Olds long shot returned the two goal advantage at 4-2.

Trojans however were proving equal to the Reds advances and pulled another goal back before half time.

Shortly after the break Carole Dillon subbed on for Bexx as Trojans began to regain their foothold in the game, first by levelling the scores and then by taking the lead with a penalty.

It was a short lived lead though as Olds thumped in another long shot to level.

A Trojans free throw was then successfully dispatched to give them back the lead at 6-5.

Nomads then began another good patch of play, stamping their authority on the game with three goals.

Helen Carswell levelled the scores with a smart finish before that man Olds hit the best of his four goals from distance and Alex Bell opened his scoring with a drop off shot.

Trojans fought back again though with a runner and then a penalty to level the scores at 8-8 with minutes remaining.

Nomads then picked up a penalty for the ball being knocked out of hands and Alex Bell coolly dispatched the penalty.

Yet more drama followed as Carole reacted superbly to block a Trojans shot and a controversial free throw decision gave Trojans an opportunity for a late leveller but the free throw was missed and Nomads finished 9-8 winners in a well fought contest with Gary Olds picking up the family bragging rights...

Sneaking up on the unsuspecting like a famous horse full of Greeks, a midweek HSKL fixture is upon us with the mighty reds taking on runaway league leaders Trojans at Epsom College with the second team game providing an exciting undercard to the main event.

Support and noise welcome and encouraged!

2nds at 20:15

1sts at 21:30

In the Monday night game, the Fourths took on Scorpions in a London 3 game and despite a late flurry of Scorpions goals, they took a comfortable 17-7 win to move up to cement their position at third in the league table.

The game was a fine example of quality shooting from the reds as they took their chances well, Carole Dillon hitting an impressive six goals to top score in a game where it was the girls who picked up most of the goals, Mary Allan with three, Paula Stockwell with two and Sally More contributing her goal from the penalty spot.

Sam Lee made his impact for the boys with two long shots and Andy Stockwell matched his tally with a brace, the final goal to make up the 17 goal total came from late sub Nick Williams.

An impressive performance in front of a big home crowd and our thanks to Scorpions for agreeing to play on Monday night to get the fixture completed.

The Third team travelled to the uninviting surrounds of Score in Leyton to take on Highbury 2, knowing that a win would secure them the London Two title.

Top scorer Ian Burrows was injured early on and although he played on, a Third consecutive six goal haul was not on the cards.

The reds battled to an 8-8 draw which leaves Northdowns capable of catching Nomads 2 if they win both their remaining fixtures against Croydon 2 and Highbury 2 and overcome a goal difference of 36.

Goals from Alex Bell (2), Ian Borrows (2), Brian Carswell (2), Kate Hotton (1), Tina Sullivan (1)

Also on Sunday, the Fifths travelled to Woking to take on their Seconds in a London 4 game.

It was a disappointing afternoon though in a game marred by a succession of free throws and an insistence from Woking to attempt to play tap pass free throws despite lacking the ability to complete them legally. It led to a bitty game that never really flowed.

Woking's open play shooting however was more competent than Nomads', who, despite taking the lead from a Lol More long shot, fell 4-1 behind at half time.

Although the reds battled back to 4-3 via a Williams runner and another from Lol More, Nick Williams missed a penalty that would have levelled the scores and Woking continued to add to the score sheet thereafter.

Nomads lost 7-4 with the final goal from Williams.

The Fourth team play Scorpions at Sutton Grammar tonight from 7:30pm, followed by a Juniors versus Club players game and finally, for those not exhausted by the games, a short session of Club training to take us up to the usual 10pm finish.

See you there!