Old Loughtonians Ladies second XI won the National EH Women’s Second XI Cup by beating Bowdon 2-1 on penalty strokes after a 3-3 draw on Saturday.

Loughts started well and won a penalty corner after a weaving run from Hannah Bloy from just inside the halfway line. Chloe Menear helped the ball across goal but it inched past the far post with Chelsey Toms unable to convert.

The best chances went Loughts’ way, but they just couldn’t find a way to take the lead and three minutes from the end of the half, an unfortunate yellow card meant the Loughts girls had to see out the final few minutes with 10 players.

Bowdon then took advantage of the extra player on the pitch and scored 30 seconds before the break to take a lead into half time.

The match really sparked into life in the second half as Old Loughtonians scored twice in as many minutes.

Jenny Farrow scored from a penalty corner routine in the 52nd minute followed by a drag flick by Shen Dedic on the 54th minute to make it 2-1.

It took Bowdon just four minutes to get back on level terms when they scored from the penalty spot.

Another well-taken penalty corner saw Emily Holmes score with just two minutes left, but Bowdon refused to give up and went straight up the other end to score in the final few seconds to take the game to penalty strokes.

Goalkeeper Abi Ashford was in fine form to save the first two strokes from Bowdon before two calm strokes from Elena Kaltsas and Ali Dunning gave Loughts the advantage.

Bowden missed their final stroke, handing Loughts the cup.