The Queen Bees now sit 4 points clear at top the Women’s Premier League after taking 4 points from their road-trip to Newcastle and Kingston. They shocked 8-times champions Newcastle Lady Vipers with a 5-1 win despite having only 11 players available due to injuries and work commitments.

The game in Newcastle promised to be a close one with the Vipers determined to avenge their defeat at the hands of the Queen Bees in last season’s play-off final but the first period saw Bracknell take control of the play from the off. Despite scoring chances for both teams though, neither was able to break the deadlock.

The Queen Bees came out flying in the second period and took the first goal of the game in the third minute through Vicki Burton who chipped the puck over the goalkeeper into the top corner of the net to take the lead. Bracknell kept the pressure on and with only a few minutes remaining in the period Louise Wells hit a long shot through traffic to beat the Vipers’ goalkeeper and give the Queen Bees a 2-0 lead. 

Just seconds before the end of the period Rhian Galea in the Bracknell net saved a shot from Newcastle’s Gemma Watt at point-blank range after a pass out from behind the net to hold the lead going into the break.

The third period saw a good 2-way battle and a close finish looked sure when a defensive error from Bracknell left Newcastle’s Laura Millard in front of the net for a clear shot which she executed with skill to float the puck over Galea’s shoulder and into the top corner of the Queen Bees’ net to narrow the gap to a single goal. 

Spurred on Bracknell took the game by the horns and within minutes restored the lead through a great solo effort by Chrissy Newman who took the puck on a breakaway and made no mistake to beat the Vipers’ goalkeeper and take the score to 3-1.

Bracknell continued to pile on the pressure and a play by Sam Phillips resulted in Kirsty Evans getting her first goal for the Queen Bees in her debut game. Newman then took the tally to 5 with a repeat of her previous goal with just a few minutes remaining on the clock. Newcastle fought hard for a consolation goal but Galea was equal to them and kept the score to 5-1 at the whistle. 

Player-of-the-match for Bracknell was Chrissy Newman.