By Lucas Ball
Holcombe earned their second Division One South win in as many days on Sunday afternoon as Nick Bandurak’s side defeated Team Bath Buccaneers 6-0 at the University of Bath.
A brace from Marian Ledesma alongside goals from Catherine Ledesma, Lottie Bingham, Deanna Ritchie and Bethan Hodges gave Holcs the three points in a dominant display where the visitors also had more than 10 penalty corners and the hosts’ goalkeeper put in an exceptional display to limit the scoring.
It marked a ruthless weekend for Holcombe who also put six past Kent rivals Canterbury on Saturday, with six points the minimum requirement over the weekend to keep the pressure on promotion rivals Barnes heading into Saturday’s fixture against them at Holcombe Park (2pm).
Those 12 goals in two matches restored Holcs to the top of the scoring standings as they moved to 53 goals in 16, seven ahead of the next-nearest team, Surbiton 2s.
The two victories also put Holcs a point behind Barnes heading into this weekend, with two matches to play as both sides bid for the required second-placed finish to be promoted to the Premier Division, with table-toppers Surbiton 2s unable to go up.
Whoever does finish second will join Sutton Coldfield – Division One North champions – in winning promotion to the top-flight, with Holcs having already won promotion to the Super 6s Premier Division with Sutton Coldfield in January.
Holcs’ dominance was evident from early on, on Sunday, as they pressed for an opener throughout the first quarter but were denied through a combination of last-ditch defending and great goalkeeping.
That dominance continued throughout the whole 70 minutes, but it took until six minutes before the half-time break for the deadlock to be broken as Marian Ledesma scored her first goal of the match and first of the season.
Catherine Ledesma made it two goals in as many matches and three in her last six four minutes later as Holcs ensured they went into the half-time break two goals to the good.
Bingham netted inside seven minutes of the second half for her sixth Division One South goal of the season, before Ritchie made it four six minutes later with her 13th outdoor goal of the season in all competitions.
Marian Ledesma added her second with nine minutes remaining as Holcs made their dominance pay, before Hodges added her second goal in as many days late on.
It was an exceptional performance from minute one to 70 for Bandurak’s side as they created countless chances, with a number of players putting in outstanding performances including both Ledesma’s, Bingham, Hannah Bond and Hodges.
Holcs simply did not let their opponents get into the game and on another day may have had even more goals but for some resolute goalkeeping.
Bandurak’s side now face promotion rivals Barnes at Holcombe Park at 2pm on Saturday – entry is free and updates will be provided across Holcombe’s social media channels.