Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team started their league campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Oxted Ladies’ first team.
Oxted attacked relentlessly for the first ten minutes and put the visitors on the back foot, but an eatly chance was dealt with confidently by goalkeeper Lucy Cochrane.
Oxted won a penalty corner but couldn’t find the goal. Charlotte Clive broke into the Oxted 25, but the home side held strong.
The Shots conceded another corner. This time the lifted shot hit the backboard, but the umpires decided the effort was too high and dangerous and the goal was disallowed.
Oxted were rattled, and the Shots began to get back into the game. Laura Gibson challenged Oxted down the right-hand side of the pitch, and Sacha Mullins and Emily Desmond teamed up nicely to take the ball forward. Oxted broke again, with a shot bouncing off the far post as the score remained 0-0 at half-time.
Aldershot & Farnham enjoyed more possession in the second half and built some attacks. Tamsin Cherry found some space in the middle and released the ball to Sophie Edwards to carve her way through the middle.
The Shots won a penalty corner. The ball was slapped in by Phoebe Bryant and bounced around the D before narrowly going off the back line.
Oxted broke quickly, and a scrappy goal in the D gave the hosts the lead. The Shots pushed for an equaliser, but the hosts held on for the win.