By Lucas Ball
Holcombe emphatically returned to winning ways against Wimbledon 2s on Saturday afternoon, winning 5-1 against the London side courtesy of goals from Leisa Randall, Hattie Jones, Jade van der Zwan and Phoebe Steele (2).
Holcombe had been on a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions before a 5-2 defeat to Barnes that saw the team slip to third, though Saturday’s victory moves Nick Bandurak’s side back up to second at the halfway point of their league season. Barnes now have a game-in-hand after their match at Surbiton 2s was called off.
The three points only looked to be heading one way from the off as Holcombe – coached by assistant Hayden Phillips with Bandurak on Great Britain duty in Argentina – raced into a three-goal lead inside fifteen minutes.
Randall opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the campaign in all competitions just seven minutes in before Jones added another five minutes later.
Australian van der Zwan completed the first-quarter scoring with her third in Holcombe colours on the quarter-of-an-hour mark.
There were no more goals before the half-time break but it only took five minutes of second-half action before Steele scored her fifth goal of the season, all four of Holcombe’s goals to this point having come from open play.
Six cards – three apiece, with one of those a yellow for Wimbledon’s Emily Barker – followed before the next goal as Steele converted a penalty corner with thirteen minutes left on the clock.
Another yellow card followed for the hosts before Phoebe Barnett scored a consolation with five minutes remaining.
Holcombe are next in action at home against Southgate on Saturday (5pm) before a cup quarter-final against Wimbledon 2s on Sunday afternoon (1:30pm).
Both matches are free to attend while updates will be provided across Holcombe’s social media channels, with the fixtures also streamed on Veo Live.