Match Reports as featured by and with pictures courtesy of Waltham Forest Guardian

It was to be a disappointing end to Forest's season as they slumpd to a 3-2 defeat away to Braintree to finish the season in 4th place in the league. O'Rourke and Collocott got the Forest goals.

A very late 4pm start away to Braintree was not how Forest would have wanted to finish the season, but needs must and they travelled missing several 1st team regulars (including both centre forwards, Tanswell and Da Silva), but still had high hopes of getting the win to end their season on a positive note.

However, the late start seemed to affect Forest from the off, as they struggled to find any rhythm to their game. Pass after pass went astray and it was only a matter of time before Braintree would capitalise on Forest's elementary mistakes. And so it proved as two goals in 5 mins from the home side exposed Forest's organisational frailties. Forest did force their way back into the game just before half-time with sweeper O'Rourke finishing off a move he started, firing the ball in from the top of the D.

However, any realistic hopes Forest had of taking maximum points from this game were dashed as Braintree extended their lead 10 mins after the break, and the goal pretty much summed up Forest's luck in the 2nd half. A straight strike from a short corner was deflected off a defender's stick and sailed into the top corner. Collocott got one back for Forest almost immediately, getting the vital touch on Brown's drilled in free hit to make it 3-2. Collocott thought he had levelled the game for Forest with 5 mins to go, from an identical play, but the umpires didn't see his deflection through the crowd of players and ruled a 16 yard hit, much to the chagrin of the Forest players.

So 3-2 it ended, which meant that Forest's record in the league ended as below:

Played 22 Won 11 Drew 5 Lost 6 For 64 Against 42 GD+22 Point 38 Position 4th

Elsewhere in the mens section, Forest's 2nds earned a creditable 1-1 draw with Essex University 1sts, to end their campaign in 3rd place in Div 5. Not to be outdone the 3rds won 2-0 against Brentwood 5ths, and have a re-arranged game to play, where victory will see them finish 3rd in Div 7.

Forest's 3rd win in a row, in the penultimate match of their see-saw season, saw them move up to 4th in the table, and if other results go their way, a win next week could see them finish a very creditable 3rd.

Wapping visited the green and white of Forest, needing a victory to guarantee their place in the league next season, and on the back of a couple of good results, and it was they who started the game strongest, with some slick movement and passing. However, Forest's hard-working defence soaked up the Wapping pressure, and then made the visitors rue their profligate finishing when they had their first real attack of the game after 10 mins. A quick free hit in the Forest half found Luce Da Silva, who ghosted past one Wapping defender before slipping the ball through to Matt Tanswell who almost over-ran the pass before nudging a deft first time shot past the advancing keeper. 5 mins later and Forest were 2-0 up when some sustained pressure in the Wapping area led to the ball breaking to James Wilby, who finished neatly into the corner from mid D. And Forest weren't done yet as some quick thinking from Brown at a free-hit just outside the Wapping 25-yard line, released the unmarked Tanswell to finish first time into the top corner, as the Wapping defence was at sixes and sevens.

Wapping pulled one back with 10 to go in the first half, as Forest momentarily lapsed at the back, but the home side's lead was restored just before the break, with a wonderful strike from the top of the D by Da Silva.

Forest's finishing hadn't been so clinical all season, and to be fair, Wapping were probably wondering how they were 4-1 down at half-time, after dominating most of the play.

The second half continued in the attacking vein of the first, with Wapping trying to get back into the game, and Forest not knowing how to defend a lead. Both sides had chances, but some wasteful finishing from both teams gave the impression that there was going to be no addition to the scoreline. That was until the visiting umpire unbelievably found fault with Clarke's clean diving save at the top of the D when one-on-one with the Wapping forward, and awarded an inexplicable short-corner. Unsurprisingly, after such a bizarre decision, Wapping's short-corner routine, which had been woeful all game suddenly clicked, and they fired in an unstoppable rising shot into the top of the backboard. But Forest held on for a well-deserved victory against a good Wapping side.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds lost out 3-1 to top of the table Wapping 3rds whilst the Mens 3rds lost a tight 1-0 game against Saffron Walden 4ths.

Forest's first win in a month coincided with their first clean sheet, although the defence was hardly stretched in a one-sided match.

Forest dominated the early possession, passing the ball neatly enough without penetrating the packed Brentwood defence. When they did, the Brentwood keeper was on fine form making several top-draw saves to keep Forest's forwards waiting for the opening goal. It was clear from the outset that Brentwood were content to sit back and try to catch Forest on the break, but any attacks they did have were easily dealt with by the Forest back four, and keeper Clarke in contrast to the Brentwood goal-tender was a relative bystander all match. Such was Brentwood's frustration at Forest's complete domination of the half, that some agricultural challenges started to fly in to disrupt Forest's play. One such tackle led to Maarten Thiele having to leave the pitch after a nasty blow to the hand.

Forest's patience was rewarded though and their opening goal came from a Brentwood error. Thiele's replacement Tim Heffer pounced on a stray Brentwood pass, and drew the advancing keeper before neatly cutting the ball inside to Da Silva for an easy conversion into the open net, and this was the only goal of an eventful first half.

The second half started as the first ended, with Brentwood continuing with the rough stuff, but Forest, learning from previous encounters, were not rising to the bait this time. A wonderful solo effort, from Da Silva, rounding half the Brentwood team before finishing coolly into the bottom corner for Forest's second, was the perfect tonic for a player who was on the receiving end of the majority of Brentwood's agricultural last-ditch tackling. Tap ins for the two James's, Milanovic and Wilby, completed Forest's rout, aided by a yellow card for the Brentwood no. 13 which, like his tackling all game was late in arriving.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds had a week's break, whilst the Mens 3rds cruised to a convincing 8-0 vs. Sudbury 4ths.

Forest's mini-slump continued at home to Clacton on Saturday, but only after a contentious umpiring decision cost them all three points. In spite of missing both their regular forwards Forest looked slick in the opening exchanges, keeping hold of the ball well and probing on both flanks. In fact, the opening attack almost brought an immediate goal but Chris Tilly narrowly failed to latch on to Maarten Thiele's pacy diagonal ball.

Whilst Forest had the lion's share of the possession, there was little in terms of end result, and with Clacton playing a similar system the first half became a war of attrition, with neither team doing much to suggest that they deserve a higher league position. Forest's midfield appeared to tire towards the end of the first half with some sloppy errors sneaking in but the Forest defence snuffed out any half chances that Clacton created on the break.

In the 2nd half it was Forest who came out with more intent, Thiele holding the ball up well and feeding the trio of Milanovic, Brown and O'Rourke breaking at pace from midfield, to good effect. The breakthrough deservedly came when a short corner strike was charged down, only for Thiele to pick up the pieces and put Forest 1-0 up, to his obvious delight. Clacton resorted to long ball tactics in their attempts to get back into the game and this appeared to be working as they began to win numerous close decisions in and around the Forest "D".

One such occasion led to the controversy from a dubiously awarded penalty corner. As a Clacton player advanced on goal from the set piece, the Clacton umpire spotted an illegal tackle to the bemusement of the Forest defence, especially since the home 'keeper had been stationed between the attacking player and the "offending" defender, preventing any such offence. The result, in spite of Forest's protestations, was a penalty stroke which Clacton's veteran defender tucked away to level things.

Forest did well to keep their heads (for the most part) after the setback and had a goal disallowed in the dying minutes but although a draw was probably a fair result, Forest will be disappointed to have defended so well for 70 minutes only for one decision to cost them 2 points. Brentwood away in the league and Marden Russets away in the cup await a busy Forest next weekend.

This loss against the top of the table side Ford, means Forest have only picked up 1 point in 9, a return which sees them fall to 5th place in the league. In a match dominated by the forwards, it was Ford who took the spoils with some clinical finishing, especially in the first half as they raced into a 3 nil lead, before a late Forest comeback.

Both sides started with a similar game plan, firing long balls from the back up to their pacey forwards and it was a tough opening for both midfields as the game was stretched from the start. Forest started well, but as Ford began to press, panic began to creep into Forest's play, and Ford were eager to pounce on any loose pass. Ford took the lead when Forest possession was lost in midfield, and Ford broke quickly, with Clarke getting down well to save the initial shot, only to see the ball loop up to a waiting Ford player who tapped the ball home from close range.
Ford soon race into a 3-0 lead, to all but kill off the game, with Forest guilty of some more loose passes which were punished with some more clinical finishing from Ford. Forest had their chances to get back into the game, but some good saves by the Ford keeper, allied with some decision making in and around the Ford D, meant Forest went into the break 3-0 down.

Ford continued to press after the break, and a good reflex stop from Clarke kept the score down before the fightback began when Da Silva finally put the ball in the back of the net for Forest 10 mins after the re-start. Chris Tilly forced a rebound home from close range, to make it 3-2 and Forest began to look like they could go on to win, spreading the ball round with more confidence. However a soft goal conceded from a straight short-corner strike put the score at 4-2 to Ford, and Forest looked out of it again. However up popped Tilly to force another one in at the back post to make it 4-3 with 8 mins to go. Forest kept the pressure on, but Ford were always looking dangerous on the break, and so it proved as a mazy solo dribble and shot from their right-wing finally extinguished Forest's hopes of salvaging somethign from this game.

Nothing less than victory will do for Forest next week as they entertain 3rd placed Clacton at home.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds won 4-2 against Upminster 3rds, whilst the Mens 3rds won 6-1 vs. Chelmsford 3rds.

In an almost carbon copy of the match between these two sides earlier this season, Forest only managed a 2-2 draw in a match they dominated, David McGuinness getting both goals.

Forest took the game to Dunmow from the outset with Tanswell and Da Silva causing problems for the visitors, with their pacey running. However it was right-midfieler McGuinness who popped up with the opening goal of the game, when he was quickest to follow up on a Da Silva effort to tuck it past the flat-footed keeper. Forest had numerous chances to extend their lead in the first half, but despite dominating possession and looking very slick in the build-up play, the final cross or shot was disappointing. The few chances Dunmow had were from short corners, with a slick routine that kept the Forest defence guessing. At half-time, Forest should have had the game done and dusted, but at only 1-0 up Dunmow were still in the game.

And so it proved, as Forest's misfiring forwards spurned more chances in the second half before Dunmow got their sucker punch, unsurprisingly from a short-corner to make it 1-1. Forest did re-take the lead, through McGuinness, although there was a hint of dangerous play in the build-up with Da Silva driving his cross in at just below knee height. But Dunmow were not to be denied and grabbed their equaliser from another short-corner to make it 2-2, and Forest will have to be a lot more clinical this saturday when they visit table-topping Ford.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds won 2-1 against Maldon and Little Baddow 2nds, whilst the Mens 3rds match was postponed.

Forest's victory charge was ended at the weekend, after a they were edged out in a 7 goal thriller in the crunch 2nd vs. 3rd place match in Div 3.

Forest took an early lead through Da Silva's powerful short corner strike, but Southend hit back immediately after a defensive mix up let in the Southend forward for a simple finish. Southend's tricky forwards were causing problems for the Forest defence, but they held firm in order for Tanswell to restore Forest's early advantage with just minutes to go in the first half. Da Silva was set free down the right, and his bullet cross found Tanswell at the back post to sweep home. However, Forest could not hold out until the half-time whistle, and allowed Southend back in the game, with a very lucky (for Southend) goal. The shot from the top of the D struck Lancaster's foot, and with Clarke committed to the initial shot, the ball trickled agonisingly into the opposite corner.

Southend turned up the pressure in the second half, and Forest were looking more and more stretched, in trying to cope with Southend's slick passing and movement. However, it was another Forest error which led to Southend taking the lead. Skipper Brown found himself in trouble deep in his own corner, and in looking for the let-out ball inexplicably fired it across his own D, and it went straight to a Southend player, whose shot was mishit wide, only to be deflected in by an unmarked Southend player who had ghosted in at the far post. A quick fourth for Southend looked to have sealed the win for them, however, Forest fought back, and after Da Silva had robbed the Southend left-back of the ball, fired in a carbon-copy cross for Tanswell to sweep in his second at the far post. Some late pressure by Forest was not enough and Southend hung on to seal their 4-3 win.

Forest, travelled to Addiscombe (Croydon) in the 3rd round of the HA Vase national knockout competition on Sunday, and avenged their Saturday league defeat, with a hard-fought 4-1 win over their Surrey League hosts. Goals from Da Silva Tanswell (2) and a rare strike from right-back Hare sealed the win, although it was goal-keeper Clarke who took the plaudits with a game turning, breath-taking full length save to preserve Forests lead when Addiscombe were looking to get back into it at 2-1 down.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds won 8-1 against Maldon and Little Baddow 3rds, whilst the Mens 3rds lost out 2-1 to Havering 4ths.

Forest stretched their run of consecutive wins to 6 in the league, with a solid, if unspectacular, 4-0 win away at Colchester 2nds, with Forest's twin strike force of Tanswell and Da Silva bagging 2 goals apiece.

The green and white of Forest started brightly against a young Colchester side, who were forced into mistakes with Forest pressing them deep into their own half. One stray pass too many from Colchester led to Forest's first opening, Tanswell bursting into the D, only to be fouled by a last ditch tackle from the covering defender. The resultant short-corner was drilled past the keeper by Da Silva.
Forest continued to press, and chances came and went, before Tanswell got the second goal Forest's efforts deserved, snapping up a rebound after Da Silva's shot was well saved by the Colchester keeper.

Into the second half, and it was more of the same, with Forest pressing Colchester into mistakes, but not being able to capitalise. Forest were sensing a goal-fest as Colchester tired, but everyone seemed to be taking the extra touch, looking for the glory ball, instead of keeping possession and playing quick short passes, and so the avalanche of goals Forest should have had never materialised. And it was only 2 goals in the last 10 mins which made the score-line reflect Forest's dominance. Tanswell snapped up another one from close range, before some slick passing between Brown , Milanovic and McGuinness finally opened up the Colchester defence, for Da silva to slip the ball through the legs of the advancing keeper (in uncharacteristically cool fashion). Da Silva, came closest to getting his hat-trick near the end, but was denied by the post with the keeper well beaten with a screamer from the top of the D. Forest's sweeper O'Rourke nearly got on the score-sheet as well with a late foray into the D, but was denied by a spectacular save by the Colchester keeper.

Despite this 4-0 win, Forest will have to step their game up considerably for the visit of second placed Southend this Saturday, a genuine 6-pointer which could make or break Forest's season. Defeat would see them slip to 10 points off second place and end any realistic chance of promotion, but victory would see them close the gap on Southend to just 4 points.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds won 6-3 against Braintree 2nds, and the Mens 3rds earned a hard-fought 1-0 win against East Suffolk Vets.

Forest had to come from two goals down, in a tough match against local rivals East London to record their fifth consecutive win, and fire them up to 3rd place in the league.

It was East London who looked the sharpest at the start of the match, so much so that they took the lead inside the first minute of this match, to put Forest firmly on the back foot. Forest looked nervy and disjointed, with passes regularly going astray in all areas of the field as East London continued to pile on the pressure. East London took a 2-0 lead 10 mins before the break, with an unstoppable short-corner strike, to assert their dominance over a Forest side who's heads seemed to be still in the Xmas break.

Captain Brown gave his troops the hair-dryer treatment they deserved at half-time, and they came out a different side in the 2nd half, as they re-discovered the game that led to their 100% record in the 4 games before Xmas. Brown and Milanovic, started to pull the strings in midfield, with Wilby and Macdonald, putting in the leg work down the flanks. But it was left-back Boulton who opened up Forest's account moments after he had miraculously blocked an East London effort on the line. A free-hit just outside the D was swept in and Boulton was there at the back post to sweep it home. This strike visibly hurt East London and it was Forest who now began to pile on the pressure. Tanswell's high shot was batted away illegally by the glove of the East London keeper, and after a moments deliberation, a penalty flick was awarded, which Tanswell himself despatched clinically. The chances were coming thick and fast now for Forest, as East London looked more and more tired. Tanswell again had a chance to put Forest in the lead but shot narrowly over the bar having been put clean through by Wilby. But he made no mistakes a couple of minutes later, rifling a carbon copy effort through the legs of the advancing keeper.

East London staged a late revival and Forest had to endure a nervy final few minutes, but the defence held firm, to record the 3-2 win, and 3rd place in the league.

Elsewhere in the Mens section, the mens 2nds earned a hard fought 4-2 win against Wivenhoe 1sts, and the Mens 3rds earned a creditable 3-3 draw with top of the table (and undefeated) Thurrock 2nds.

Waltham Forest Ladies finished off their winning season in style with an emphatic seven goal victory over visiting Colchester Ladies 2nds.

It was very much to be the forwards' day as they put together some excellent moves. The fact that all of the team's forwards feature near the top of the Essex goal scoring league is a testament to one of Forest's greatest team strengths this season.

Alison Crawford's pace and Kathryn Tucker's strong stick skills created space and scoring opportunities for the home side time and again. And it wasn't long before Forest opened the scoring, Tucker hitting a close range backboard thumper following some excellent midfield play from Anna Pearson and Am Perry on the right of midfield.

Mandy Briggs as right forward did some great work to provide a perfect opportunity for Tucker to unleash her second goal: a well struck effort from the top of the circle across the face of goal beyond the reach of the keeper.

Some great running work from Crawford on the left saw her first shot elude the keeper but get saved by the post only to linger just an inch from the line. The awaiting Briggs was unable to finish it off and in the goal mouth melee that ensued the Colchester clearance fell to Tucker who put in a cross for Crawford to finish the move she had started with a text book sweep into an open goal.

Tucker then assisted again for Crawford's run at goal. She showed great composure to go round the diving keeper to complete her brace.

And making it five nil just before half-time, Mandy Briggs struck Forest's 100th goal of the season.

Forest stepped off the pedal slightly in the second-half and Colchester pressed their advantage with a renewed resolve and were able to claw back two well earned consolation goals, one from a goal mouth scramble, and the other from a penalty corner.

Forest eventually replied with two more of their own. Tucker weaved her way through the visitors defence only to fluff her shot at goal. Undeterred, she calmly disposed the defender in the circle and flicked the ball into goal to complete her hattrick.

Next, Jenny Todd stepped up from defence for the final goal. Picking up a loose ball outside the circle she found the space to advance into the scoring territory and her shot flew through the moving keeper's legs for a fine nutmeg to wrap up Forest's last goal in the last game of the season.

Philippa Leguen de Lacroix, retiring from captaincy after her third year in the post, said "The team has really gone from strength to strength, I'm so proud of all the players. I'm lucky to have been in charge of such a great team and I'd like to thank them all for their hard work and committment! But now it's someone else's turn! We're all really looking forward to next season it's going to be fantastic to play in the East league"

Recent encounters have left little love lost between local rivals Havering and Waltham Forest ladies. Forest's lowest scoring game all season on a bitterly cold Saturday turned out to be eventful for all the wrong reasons.

That two Forest players were later checking into A&E clearly puts paid to Forest's discontent at the end of a game which unfortunately ended Forest's impressive unbeaten run of 24 games.
Forest's pacey forward Gill Fraser was the first to suffer, a broken finger and damaged ligament leaves her sidelined for the next six weeks when a high ball in the circle struck her hand. Within the next minute, Ayleen Duske's pain was all too visible as she badly twisted her ankle going towards goal.

Forest had dominated the first ten minutes with some solid possession, but lacking Duske in midfield and reduced to ten players they lost composure. Havering pressed their advantage with a string of penalty corners. One shot hit a Forest foot in the circle and looped over keeper Mog Campbell to give the home side the lead.

Clearly in pain, an admirable effort from Duske saw her return to the field in defence, and Forest regrouped and restored the balance. Despite several close attempts, fine work from the Havering keeper and frustrating wide shots were to deny Forest an equaliser for the rest of the first-half.

Early in the second-half a well-worked penalty corner gave Anna Pearson an assist as her pass to Jenny Todd resulted in a goal much to the visitors' delight. As play flowed from end-to-end both sides battled hard for possession and shooting opportunities. A clash in defence was the next blow to Forest as Bekah Phillips was hit in the head by a high-stick. Phillips visibly wobbled and had to come off the pitch with mild concussion.

Moments later, a cross from a long corner bounced through the Forest defence and was nicked into goal by a Havering forward waiting at the far post. With 2-1 deficit, Forest had their work cut out to get back on the scoresheet with just a quarter of the game remaining, but it was never going to be an easy ride against the second-placed team in the league.

As a final straw, Jenny Todd was shown a yellow and sin binned for the last ten minutes of the game. Having been green-carded in the first-half for stick tackles, a further, albeit very minor, tackle strangely proved too much for the home umpire and once again reduced Forest back to ten men. All felt it to be a harsh decision as there were clearly worse incidents occuring elsewhere on the pitch. Despite Forest coming agonisingly close to scoring several times, they were unable to find the equaliser.

League winners Forest were extremely disappointed to lose in such a fashion and certainly their pride took a knock to lose for the first time in 25 games. Fortunately the result doesn't effect Forest's status as champions and they can put the result as well as the opposition behind them as they progress to the East league next season.

Waltham Forest ladies clinched the Championship Title of the Essex Hockey Premiership with a win over Old de Ferrians in South Woodham Ferrers on Saturday.

Forest began with a spell of strong possession and creative attacking pressure. Although an early lead looked certain, it took a while to come. Captain Philippa Lacroix missed a golden opportunity to sink a rebound but her shot was frustratingly a couple of inches wide. Further chances were denied by some excellent goal-keeping from the home side. Desperate to keep the visitors at bay, a defensive foot got in the way of Gill Fraser's probable goal and a penalty stroke was awarded to Forest. Ayleen Duske stepped up to do the honours and breathed a sigh of relief when her aerial carried enough power to cross the goal line despite a slight juggle in the air by the keeper.

Yet Old de Ferrians troubled Forest with their attacking speed through the centre of midfield and proved to be a quality team not to be underestimated. When the home side drew level soon after it became clear that this match was to be no easy ride to guarantee the league title.
So Forest dug deep and a number of promising penalty corners eventually bore fruit when Kathryn Tucker passed an inch perfect ball back to injector Fraser who swept it into the goal at the left post.

Going into the second-half with a 2-1 lead, a nervous Forest were only too aware that their fortune could easily turn and looked desperate to give themselves a much needed larger goal cushion. Linda Neimantas was denied by the post at one end, whilst central defender Mandy Briggs dealt admirably with the home side's attempts, ably assisted by Katherine McGregor and Jenny Todd, at the other. Todd showed time and again that the best form of defence is indeed attack as her surging runs gave Forest an extra string to their bow. On an otherwise cold and bitter day the sun shone for just a few minutes as Duske provided the assist in open play for birthday girl Alison Crawford to shoot past the defence to seal the win with around 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

Forest had certainly played better this season, but having narrowly lost out on promotion last year to goal difference alone, they have successfully produced a consistent performance this season and fully deserve the premiership title. This win amounted to their 24th consecutive unbeaten game in the league and with just two more games remaining, the ladies will be fighting hard to maintain this impressive run when they face second placed Havering next week.

CHAMPIONEES!
Kelly field goal - assist from Ayleen
Alison field goal - assist from Linda
Tucker field goal - assist from Gill
Gill penalty corner goal - assist from Tucker
Kelly field goal - assist from Tucker
Am - MOTM

Waltham Forest ladies continued their domination of the Essex Premiership with another solid win on a cold Saturday in Walthamstow.

The first penalty corner of the game gave Forest a well deserved lead. Ayleen Duske pulled off an excellent long flick from the top of the circle into the back of the net. Following more attacking pressure later in the half, another penalty corner saw captain Philippa Lacroix scramble the ball over the line from close range to bag Forest's second. Kathryn Tucker then made it three nil before half-time with a thunderbolt strike from the top of the circle via Duske's slip at yet another penalty corner.

The second-half initially saw less action, with a good deal of midfield battling, but few goal scoring opportunities. Mid-way through the half, a counter attacking move by Forest featured Kelly Bibbey making a key run up into the circle to feed an inch perfect pass to Alison Crawford on the left wing. Crawford's clinical dispatch gave Forest their second wind and was soon followed by an almost identical move with Gill Fraser this time making the run and producing the assist for Crawford to finish again in style.

Havering were truly finished when Bibbey buried Ayleen Duske's pass into the bottom corner of the goal at a penalty corner for Forest's sixth goal. Finally a superb weaving run from the tireless Crawford saw her get the better of several defenders before her first shot was saved by the keeper only for her to sweep up the rebound and seal the win with Forest's seventh goal, and complete her hatrick, with just seconds to play before the final whistle. With only four league games left to play this season, Forest are certain to win the Premiership title as they are currently unbeaten in the league and have stretched to a nine point lead. However, without tempting fate, there are still tough games to play, and Forest need to work hard to keep up their 100% record.

Waltham Forest ladies displayed another convincing win on Saturday in Harlow.

Despite a bright start from both teams, it wasn't until substitute Kelly Bibbey came on mid-way through the half that Forest found the chink in Harlow's defensive armour to open the scoring. Kathryn Tucker followed up Philippa Lacroix's hard work into the circle to make the crucial back pass to the spot for the waiting Bibbey to flick over the diving keeper into the back of the net.

Tucker and Bibbey then reversed roles with Bibbey providing the pass for Tucker in front of goal to go around the keeper and reverse stick slide the ball over the line for Forest's second.

Gill Fraser then wrapped up the win with a pacey run from deep in the half. The supporting Forest forwards drew the defence away from Fraser who was then clear to fire an accurate shot into the corner of the goal.

With just five games remaining, Forest need to win only three more to guarantee the premiership title.

Table-topping Waltham Forest ladies hosted mid-table Dunmow on Saturday at Douglas Eyre in Walthamstow.

Forest displayed a typically solid and competent performance and created plenty of scoring opportunities. The opener came from Ayleen Duske's ball to Kelly Bibbey. Bibbey got a crucial tap to the ball which sent it out of the keeper's reach and onto the backboard.

A midfield run by captain Philippa Lacroix into the circle gave Kathryn Tucker a chance to score but she shot just wide and the ball ricocheted off the post. Several chances for Forest were to go similarly wide but so early in the game it was of little concern.

A string of long-corners for Forest on the left eventually led to the second goal. Linda Neimantas's back-line pass to Bibbey in turn fed Tucker for a shot on goal, the keeper saved but Bibbey was there to sweep in the rebound.

Dunmow were rallied by a superb goal just before half-time to stay in the game. A long ball was rifled into the circle from beyond the 25 yard line to find the stick of a waiting Dunmow player to deflect into goal before Forest keeper Mog Campbell could react.

The second-half saw Forest continue their attacking pressure and it wasn't long before Tucker got on target. Lacroix sped past her marker and into the circle to selflessly pass to Tucker who shot into the far corner sending the keeper the wrong way.

A penalty corner gave Tucker another cracking shot on target and notch another goal as Forest extended their lead to 4-1. The successful partnership of Fraser and Bibbey shone again as Fraser slipped to Bibbey in the circle who weaved her way through defence, latched onto her own rebounded shot and finally pushed the ball behind the keeper from an acute angle at the near post, tumbling onto the floor in the process to complete her hatrick.

A series of penalty corners for Dunmow at the other end saw Forest leak in another goal which rewarded Dunmow for their hard-work throughout the match.

Finally, a quickly taken free hit outside the circle by Lacroix to Fraser produced the sixth goal as Fraser span away from her defender and reverse stick swept the ball into the corner of the goal to seal the win for Forest.

With this win Forest extended their lead at the top of the premiership and notched their unbeaten run of league games across 2 seasons to 20.

Having been held to a draw by Basildon in their previous league encounter this season Forest were determined to take all 3 points with a win at Douglas Eyre on Saturday.

The first-half saw Forest in undeniable control. An early goal from Gill Fraser was disallowed as it was deemed the ball was outside the circle when struck, shortly afterwards Alison Crawford made amends by skillfully weaving her way through the Basildon defence and around the keeper to open the scoring. Forest kept up the pressure, and an inch perfect penalty corner pass by Kathryn Tucker to Crawford running onto the post took Forest to two nil.

Captain Philippa Lacroix made a run down the right flank to the baseline later in the half. Her pass towards goal nearly went out off the pitch, fortunately Kelly Bibbey was there to scoop it away from the line and cross to Gill Fraser who slotted the ball into goal. Tucker later cleared the ball out of the defence up to Crawford, fluid play linking Linda Neimantas, Gina Harvey and Ayleen Duske, culiminating in Bibbey again putting in the crucial pass back to Crawford to score and bag her hattrick with a lovely team goal in the process.

Going into the second-half with a four goal lead, Forest were confident and ready for more goals to flow. Basildon clearly had other ideas however, and showed their mettle by fighting every inch of the way. Forest didn't get themselves into many good scoring opportunities, and instead of dominating possession, found themselves on the back foot. Basildon were certainly putting in more effort than the home side, and Forest failed to deal efficiently with the visitors' attacking pressure. Several penalty corners were awarded, and Basildon bundled the ball over the line twice within ten minutes to close the gap.

Forest were drawn into a physical and scrappy game, and despite attempting to play with more composure, Basildon's pace and energy made it difficult for the home side to keep control. As the game flew from end to end, Fraser made an excellent run up the pitch into the circle, her shot was saved by a combination of the keeper and the post, but Bibbey was on hand to touch the ball over the line to notch another for Forest and restore the composure of the home side. The final whistle blew to interrupt another strong attacking move as Forest piled on the pressure, and kept Forest's unbeaten run in tact.