St Albans Hockey Club ladies’ vets have qualified for the quarter-finals of the England Hockey over 35s cup after a dramatic win away to Ipswich.

The visitors pressed hard throughout the game and a brace from club captain Liz Cleverly put the Tangerines 2-1 ahead with five minutes to go. A place in the final eight was in sight but Ipswich kept themselves in contention and secured a penalty shootout by scoring in the last seconds to make it 2-2 at the final whistle.

Cleverly, Jo Weston and Emma Thomas held their nerve to fire home goals in the shootout and three crucial saves from goalkeeper Sue Owen gave St Albans a 3-2 win and a place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the men’s 1sts finished the weekend two points clear at the top of the East of England Premier League after 3-1 wins against Felixstowe and Bedford with goals from Matthew Davey (3), Craig Smith (2) and James Champion. The home crowd can look forward to a weekend of action ahead with both the men’s and women’s 1sts playing at Oaklands this Saturday.