BASINGSTOKE Hockey Club ladies were narrowly beaten 2-1 at Wimbledon in their South Clubs’ League Division 3B top-of-the-table clash, writes Mark Easto.

Wimbledon opened the scoring as they converted one of their several short corners.

The home side added a second, the umpire ruling that despite Gemma Carswell’s best efforts, the ball had crossed the line.

Basingstoke came out strong in the second half and were rewarded with a Roxy O’Dea goal.

In the closing minutes, Wimbledon put everyone behind the ball and the visitors were unable to break them down.

The second team maintained top spot in the South League Hampshire Area Division Two, thanks to a 3-0 win away at Winchester.

After several forays into the opposition semi-circle, Basingstoke received a penalty-corner, which was dispatched by Sarah Mainprise.

A quick restart saw Bev Mackay drive forward and she set up Catherine Woodliffe to double the advantage.

The visitors then earned themselves a penalty flick, which Mainprise converted to complete the victory.

Elsewhere in the ladies section, the thirds were held 0-0 at home by Havant.

The fourths secured a 2-1 win away against Trojans, while the fifth team suffered a 6-2 defeat at home to Hamble.

After last week’s disappointment of a late defeat to runaway league leaders Winchester, the men’s first team bounced back with a fine 5-1 victory at Wanderers.

The visitors opened the scoring from Daniel Bowden, and Mark Smith soon doubled their advantage.

Five minutes before half-time, the visitors added a third after a fine counter-attack was finished by Dave Stones.

Wanderers pulled a goal back quickly after the re-start, but the visitors responded with strikes from Ben Jubin, Grant Rouse and Dean Record.

The second team notched up a well-earned 3-3 draw against visiting Bournemouth.

The home side took the lead through Ben Shaughnessy, but the visitors retaliated with two goals before half-time and one after the break to lead 3-1.

Basingstoke’s Clinton Douglass replied and then Shaughnessy struck again from Luke Holdcroft’s cross to make sure honours were even.

The third team secured a 2-1 win against Fareham as Karl Bishop and Dan Holding scored.

The fourths lost 3-2 at table-topping Woking, despite Pete Wood putting them ahead early on.

The home side hit back to lead 2-1 at the break and scored a third after the interval.

Basingstoke scored late on from Eliot Boyd’s penalty stroke to set up a tense finish, but the hosts held on to win 3-2.

The fifth team hosted Fleet and Ewshott and took the lead from Ross Cavalier.

The visitors came back into the game and equalised just before half-time.

Soon after the break, Basingstoke lost centre midfielder Phil Unwins to injury, which left them on the back foot, and the visitors grabbed a winner.

Elsewhere in the men’s section Basingstoke Vikings lost 2-0 at home to Aldershot and Farnborough.