Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team have enjoyed a fruitful build-up to the new season.

Training in the unusually high temperatures was tough, and playing the first few friendlies in the September heatwave was brutal.

The team are hoping to start the season as strongly as they finished in the spring.

The squad have been training throughout August and September and had their last friendly game on Saturday.

Losing key defenders to university and pregnancy, there have been some changes to the players’ positions. However, the core of the side remains the same, boosted by some new junior talent coming through the ranks.

In their pre-season friendly matches, Aldershot & Farnham’s ladies’ first team beat Old Georgians’ ladies’ second team 4-1, Alton's ladies’ first team 4-1 and Haslemere's ladies’ first team 4-1.

Saturday’s match at Haslemere took place on another scorching, sunny day.

The hot weather didn’t stop the Aldershot & Farnham forwards making excellent runs through the defence to create lots of opportunities on goal.

There were open play goals from Tammy Davis, Charlotte Clive and Sophie Edwards (2).

Haslemere capitalised on a defensive error to pull a goal back.