Old Loughtonians ladies second in Conference East after 2-1 win at home to Horsham

After a delayed start, Loughts began the better and a counter-attack from Chloe Rodgers resulted in her rolling the ball easily past the keeper after five minutes.

However, this appeared to motivate Horsham more than Loughts and they played with greater intensity.

A move down the left led to a good save from the Loughts goalkeeper but the rebound was powered home at the near post to make it 1-1.

The second half started with Loughts playing a higher tempo but a handful of chances went begging.

It was not until eight minutes from time that Shenarda Dedic broke away with a fine dribble before setting up Miranda Weeks to slot home.

Old Loughtonians men were convincingly beaten 4-1 by Holcombe in the Conference East, a defeat which leaves Loughts third from bottom of the league.

The game started with Loughts making the odd mistake without being punished by a Holcombe side that boasted a number of new signings.

Holcombe broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when they overloaded players down the left-hand side and a strike across goal was deflected into the net by Barry Middleton.

Loughts continued to fight bravely but their defence was breached again in the 27th minute when a Loughts turnover was punished at the back post by Danny Hall.

Loughts’ efforts were rewarded before half-time as good work by James Jewell and Stuart Hardy was finished off by Conor Caplan, who flicked the ball high into the net in the 31st minute to make it 2-1.

An improved Loughtonians performance in the second period did not yield a better result as Holcombe finished the game off in the 57th minute when another overload led to a ball across the D which was comfortably put in at the back post by Alex Jennings.

In the closing minutes, Loughts gave away a needless fourth as Hall added his second.