HC Knole Park’s Ladies 1st Team have won Kent Division Six in spectacular fashion! Played 10, won 10 & scored 110 goals in the process! This seals the league title with two matches left to play and promotes Knole Park to Kent Division Five for next season! Six goals from England Star Lottie Bingham and four from Josefina Hippe were the highlights of a superb team performance!
The team got off to another flying start and it was Polly Brownlow who opened the scoring as she converted a lovely sweeping move that started from a defensive hit-out. Anna Faulstich then drag-flicked a penalty corner, before Ruth Bingham slotted home from an acute angle. Lottie Bingham, fresh from England U16 duty then scored the first of her six goals after a cross in the D from Polly. Josefina Hippe was the scorer of the team’s fifth goal as she was put in by Lottie. Lottie scored a beautiful backhand strike for the team’s sixth and the club’s one hundredth goal of the season! Not to be outdone, Anna scored her own backhand strike, before the awesome mother and daughter Bingham combination linked up with a beautiful passing move that saw Lottie finish superbly. The half time score was 8-0.
The second half was a similar story as the young Knole Park side continued to attack the Blackheath goal. Josefina scored a wonderful solo goal almost from the restart, before deflecting home a penalty corner. Lottie scored two more quick fire goals - another outstanding backhand and then she finished off a lovely team move as debutant Mackenzie Ward & flying wing-back and Player of the Match Amber Croll drove down the right hand side leaving Lottie only needing to tap the ball in. Lucie Jones, then scored what can only be describe as hockey’s version of a “Panenka” from the spot. After Lottie’s shot hit a defenders foot on the line, LJ stepped up to take the penalty flick. She sent the keeper down before coolly chipping the ball into the goal for her first goal of the season! Further goals from Josefina, Lottie (after another beautiful sweeping move) and Ruth converting from more good work from Amber and Josefina took the score line to 16-0 and promotion for HC Knole Park!
The midfield trio of Lottie, Josefina and Anna have managed to score 60 goals between them so far this season! Lottie Bingham has top scored for the team with 31 goals. Josefina Hippe has 15 and Anna Faulstich has 14. A remarkable effort of quality and consistency.
Captain Ruth Bingham said: “It has been a privilege to captain and play in a team alongside such talented young players! Their positivity towards myself and the other adults has made this season a lot of fun! To win a title only a few months after the club was initiated is a wonderful achievement and a lot of credit must go to our coach Duncan Parnis who has supported and coached players of all ages to combine together and have a great team spirit and a winning formula.”
Head Coach Duncan Parnis said: “I am so proud of the all the players that have played in the Ladies 1st team this season. The hockey they have played, the spirit in which they have played it and all whilst enjoying it with their friends has made every match a joy to be a part of! Many congratulations to everyone!”
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