Hampstead & Westminster ladies’ perfect start is ended but men’s side triumph again

Hampstead & Westminster’s ladies were unable to maintain their perfect start to the season as they suffered their first defeat in the National League – but the men’s team earned a second successive victory in the Premier Division.

H&W’s ladies had won their first three games of the campaign following last season’s promotion, and they hosted a Chelmsford side who were still waiting for their first triumph on Saturday.

However, the visitors took a 20th-minute lead at Paddington Recreation Ground and, although Alice Garrad equalised before the break, Chelmsford re-established their advantage after the interval and survived three penalty corners in the last 10 minutes to win the game 2-1.

Hampstead’s men were also at home on Sunday, and they secured a 3-1 victory over Brooklands MU to stay fourth in the top flight.

David Cooper scrambled home at the far post after good work from Matt Botha and James Simpson, and a fine break from Tom Kavanaugh won a penalty flick which was converted by Neil Hamilton.

Hampstead then had a series of players sin-binned – Stuart Loughrey, Jonny Codling and Simpson – and goalkeeper Harry Gibson was forced into action, but Simpson made it 3-0 from Botha’s pass before Brooklands pulled a goal back.