Aldershot & Farnham (A&F) Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Brighton Ladies in the South East Women’s Premier Division.

The Shots started strongly, and won two short corners in quick succession. Hannah Wrench in centre midfield created some good chances for the forwards, who kept the Brighton keeper busy.

Brighton perked up, utilising their quick link-up play down the channels to put pressure on the Shots.

Keeper Lucy Cochrane was called into action to make some crucial saves from a couple of Brighton breakaways.

A&F dealt with some short corners, but an open play attack down the right from Brighton caught the Shots off guard and the visitors found themselves 1-0 up.

Both teams were putting in a shift. The umpires started to hand out cards for stick tackles, with both Brighton and the Shots having a player sent off.

The Shots went into the second half looking for an equaliser. Space down the channels gave Sacha Mullins and Fiona Stewart space to take players on. An early short corner was won after a run of strong attacking play, but Brighton were determined not to allow the scoreboard to level.

The Shots’ press worked well, with Brighton struggling to get past halfway as A&F tried to penetrate into the D for a chance on goal. Stewart found space for a reverse stick shot, forcing a save from the Brighton keeper. A dangerous ball by Mullins had Tammy Cherry and Sophia Fielding trying to find a way past the Brighton keeper, to no avail.

Brighton scored a second goal late on, when a deflection off Cherry’s stick went past Cochrane.