FORTRESS Luxborough Lane struck again for the Old Loughtonians Ladies 1st XI as they come towards the end of a very successful season.

Last weekend they were entertaining Horsham in their last home league game of the season. Fired up by a last minute change in sock colour, Loughts came out looking the stronger of the two sides from the first whistle blow.

However, it wasn't until a cross from Rachel Crisp was converted by Leigh Sandison for her first league goal this season in the 13th minute did Loughts take the lead.

It wasn't all the Higgins Ladies way and keeper Lisa Griffin was called on to make a fine save with some fantastic clearances from Sarah Smith. Whilst Loughts looked the stronger of the two sides, their final penetration in the D meant that the first half looked to end 1-0 until a final penalty corner was awarded.

Becky Halle managed to deflect a loose ball behind her on her reverse stick to score her 20th goal of the season.

The second half saw a Horsham team fighting against the potential of being in a relegation place with Zephanie Fisher unleashing a fantastic strike to bring the score to 2-1.

However, this teed up Loughts who won a short corner which was duly converted by Georgina Zumeris to finish off the game 3-1. With other results going their way Loughts moved into second place in the league.

Next week Loughts travel to St Albans for the final game of the season.

On Sunday Old Loughtonians Mens 1st XI faced Indian Gymkhana, a team that they had lost to earlier in the year.

With neither team having much to play for Sunday’s game was all about playing for pride and league places. Old Loughtonians dominated the game in the early exchanges, but despite carving out several opportunities were unable to convert their early pressure.

The first half ended with Old Loughtonians having to soak up some Indian Gym pressure, but the defence held strong and went into half time with the scores level at 0-0.

After half time Old Loughtonians again came out strong, but their inability to convert the pressure into penalty corners would prove to cost them victory.

Some late Indian Gym pressure was cancelled out by some good defending and some solid goalkeeping from James Bailey which meant that when the final whistle blew the scores were level at 0-0 leaving neither side with any real complaints about not taking all three points.

Next week Old Loughtonians men travel to Peterborough who will be fighting to maintain their national league status.