Aldershot & Farnham (A&F) Hockey Club’s Ladies fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Folkestone Optimist in the South East Women’s Premier Division on Saturday.

The first attack of the game came from Grace Wilkinson, who fed a ball through to Sophie Edwards up front to run a baseline drive. Folkestone struck back, with a shot on goal which was blocked by Louise Laws.

This led to a break with Laws and Hannah Wrench connecting to get the Shots into an attacking position, and Fiona Stewart got herself into the D to take a reverse shot on goal. Shots keeper Lucy Cochrane remained busy, clearing a Folkestone attempt on goal. A quick second attempt followed by Folkestone, which took a deflection in to give the visitors the lead.

Tasmin Urquhart found some space to make ground to halfway. Emily Desmond and Edwards linked up to create another baseline drive. Charlotte Clive got a shot on goal, but the Folkestone keeper cleared. The Shots won a short corner, which led to attempts by Sacha Mullins and Sophia Fielding, but the Folkestone keeper kept the ball out. Folkestone then won a short corner, and scored with the help of a deflection to double their advantage.

A&F responded positively to the setback. Fielding had another attempt at goal, before Desmond won a short corner. The ball bounced around the D, and the Folkestone keeper was beaten with the final touch coming off Edwards to make it 2-1.

The Shots came close to scoring an equaliser when Edwards intercepted a Folkestone transfer and got a shot on goal. Folkestone then caught the Shots on the back foot, but Fielding sprinted back to disrupt the play and Wilkinson cleared to give the Shots some breathing space.

Play was then stopped as hail came down from the sky. The pause took the wind out of the Shots’ sails, and a few minutes into the restart Folkestone broke away and scored to make it 3-1.

A&F have a week off before travelling to Guildford’s second team for their final game of the season on Saturday, April 6.