HOCKEY

Brentwood 0
Waltham Forest 3
(NE14HOCKEY East Div 2S) WALTHAM Forest ladies kept alive their slim hopes of promotion with a convincing victory at Brentwood.

The team are in fifth place in the table but sit only three points off top spot with two games to play.

Against Brentwood they registered a repeat of the scoreline of their encounter earlier in the season.

The first half was lively, with both sides well matched.

Although no goals were scored, Forest were passing and keeping possession better than in previous weeks.

Jo Mitchell and Mandy Briggs were both busy in the Forest defence doing an effective job of breaking down the Brentwood attacks, and out-of-position Emma Roscoe did an increasingly well-settled job at the back.

There was still plenty to improve upon however, and the team did just that in the second half.

Following a double save on the line as first Linda Neimantas then Philippa Leguen de Lacroix attempted to sweep up Anna Pearson's saved shot, Forest were awarded a penalty after the ball was judged to have hit the back of a defender's stick.

Captain Ayleen Duske stepped up to put a fast high ball to the keeper's left to give the visitors the lead.

Pearson scored the second with a powerful shot following swift play by Leguen de Lacroix and Neimantas, killing off Brentwood's hopes of a comeback.

Sue Moore nearly swept in to score following some good work down the wing by Leguen de Lacroix, but the pull back was put too far behind and just out of reach.

But Forest duly grabbed a third late on from another good team goal, Pearson notching her second with a thumping effort from close range.

Forest host bottom of the table Old de Ferrians on Saturday.

- Meanwhile, Waltham Forest men's East Division 3SE match with Brentwood was postponed at the weekend. They return to host Old Southendian on Saturday.