THE LADIES of Waltham Forest hockey team suffered a knock to their promotion drive last weekend, losing to mid-table opponents.

But a more painful blow is likely to be skipper Ayleen Duske’s suspected broken nose. The injury forced her from the field when the clash was poised at 2-2.

Forest travelled to take on the Cambridge Nomads in search of points as they vie for the top spot in the East Women’s League, 2SW Division, with Bishops Stortford and table toppers, Broxbourne.

But the hosts moved ahead half way through the first half from a penalty corner, while it was soon two as Forest’s keeper saw the ball go through her legs.

Forest still showed signs of their class by hitting back with a brace of goals from Emma Livingston-Jones.

The first was a close range deflected goal from an Ayleen Duske shot, while the equaliser was a smart finish close in.

It was at this juncture that Duske bloodied her nose, and the Nomads delivered a more painful blow for the team with another goal.

Forest’s fate was sealed at the death with a final goal from a neat flick.