Hampstead & Westminster’s hopefuls earn win double on home turf to maintain form

Hampstead & Westminster had a National League win double at Maida Vale to maintain their fine start to the season.

The women hosted Southgate in Conference East, in their last home fixture before Christmas and took the lead after just three minutes.

Lauren Turner dived in at the far post to finish off a precision pass from Emily Douglas, but the hosts had to wait until two minutes into the second half to double their lead through a fine Lucy Hyams solo effort.

Jasmine Clark finished off a superb team move with a half volley over the diving Southgate keeper, but a succession of cards stifled Hampstead’s momentum and Southgate hit back.

Clark bagged her second goal with five minutes left and Hyams capped a player of the match display with a diving effort from a short corner to make it 5-1.

With other results going their way, Hampstead now top the table and visit bottom club Ipswich this weekend.

The men had been unlucky not to take all three points against Premier Division leaders Surbiton a week earlier, but took the lead against Brooklands as Rupert Shipperley struck.

It was 2-0 as Matt Guise-Brown fired home former a corner, but the visitors replied in kind before Josh Kelly deflected a hard slap from Guise-Brown into the net.

The second half began badly for the hosts as the Manchester side notched two quick goals in eight minutes – a drag flick deflecting off a defender, before another deflection made it 3-3.

But Hampstead regained their composure and applied pressure, which eventually paid off when Shipperley claimed his second goal of the game on 50 minutes to restore the lead.

They again struggled with restarts, however, and Brooklands levelled it again just two minutes later from a short corner.

Sam French tapped in at the far post after more Hampstead pressure to make it 5-4 just before the hour mark and the closing stages proved tense, with the visitors removing their keeper for a kicking-back.

Brooklands created a few good chances to score, including four late corners, but Hampstead held on for the points to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

Surbiton remain top on goal difference after beating Holcombe 6-1, with Hampstead visiting East Grinstead this weekend.