St Albans Hockey Club’s ladies’ 1sts failed to capitalise on East Grinstead’s slip up as they suffered a shock defeat to Chelmsford in Essex on Saturday.

East Grinstead lost 3-0 to newly crowned champions Holcombe, leaving the door open for St Albans to jump into second place. However, against the second from bottom side, the Tangerines were beaten 3-0.

Holcombe’s win books their place in the play-offs for a Premier Division spot next season – the winner of each Conference (East, West, North) and the ninth-placed team in the Premier Division enter a play-off for a spot in top division – leaving the two trailing teams with nothing but pride, and second place, to play for.

St Albans will need to beat Wimbledon and Holcombe in their final two games in they hope to overturn East Grinstead and finish in the runner-up spot.