Haslemere Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team staged a late comeback against New Forest to win 4-3 at home and pick up three much-needed league points.

Mel Redman opened the scoring when a ball was deflected high in the D off a New Forest defender and Redman smashed it into the goal with an overhead shot.

New Forest equalised shortly afterwards.

Haslemere continued to create chances and looked dangerous on the attack, but New Forest came back hard and won two penalty corners. One shot hit the crossbar and the visitors were unlucky not to convert some of their chances.

A tussle between two players resulted in a New Forest player sustaining a knock to the head. This did not deter them and they won two penalty corners, with a shot cleared off the line by Abbie Walhen.

Haslemere went back on the attack and won two penalty corners, but these were not converted and at half-time the score remained 1-1.

Despite having no substitutes, New Forest started the second half well and put the Haslemere defence under pressure with a high press.

New Forest exploited their chances, scoring two goals in quick succession from open play. Despite the scoreline being 3-1 to New Forest, Haslemere showed good determination and team spirit and went back on the attack.

A well-crafted attack down the right wing saw the ball driven along the byline and flicked back to Rachel Selmes, who pushed it over the line.

Knowing the opposition were tiring, Haslemere kept up the pressure. Ten minutes later Alice Toynton delivered a cracking reverse-stick shot from the top left edge of the D, which Beanie Bradley deflected into the goal.

The Haslemere ladies were completely fired up and continued to attack relentlessly, winning more penalty corners.

With less than five minutes left, Toynton displayed superb skill in the D, dodging past several defenders and crossing the ball across the goal for Redman to deflect into the goal to make the score 4-3.

Haslemere then effectively managed the game for the last three minutes, holding the ball and running into the attacking corner, denying New Forest any opportunities to equalise.

Haslemere are now seventh in the league, with only one point separating them from the four teams above them.

Haslemere Ladies’ next game is away at South Berkshire’s first team on Saturday (October 28).