The best result of the UK Women's League campaign brought a fine fourth place finish at Carshalton on Sunday but it was not enough to preserve the squad's Division 2 status as once again the results on the day went against them in this topsy-turvey league.

The scene was always set for a competing final fixture with all to play for. With league leaders Liverpool virtually promoted there were still five of the other seven clubs who could still grab the second promotion place while it was also possible for five clubs to be relegated alongside bottom club Belgrave – although Havering Mayesbrook always looked favourites as they were three league points adrift. But with clubs trading places in the previous two matches anything was possible.

Points on the track are always hard to come by and the club’s weakest events – the sprints – were even stronger this time out. The club’s track highlights came through three fine victories.  Alexa stamped her authority on a tactical 1500m to win with ease, after finishing fourth in a competitive 800m.  Faye Fullerton was untroubled in winning the 3000m from the front, with Robyn Matson second in the B.

Multi events international Catherine Holdsworth capped a fine individual performances to come from behind for victory in the 100m hurdles.  She was also second in the long jump, third in the shot and ran both relays, contributing the fastest 400m leg in the 1600m relay.

Lauren Deadman was runner up in the B 800m and Laura Bealey fourth in the 400m hurdles B but otherwise the track squad of Nicola Hill, Chekube Onwuka, Lisa Schofield, Nina Brennan and Claire Brennan struggled to make an impact on the points tally.

On the field Kate Cowley further improved her club pole vault record to 2.80m but good enough only for fifth, the same position gained by Danielle Ross in the B event.  Cowley was third in the high jump, while Bethan Siddons won the B event on her league debut.

Mel Harrison scored well with second in the B shot, third in the discus and fifth in the hammer, and Lauren Clark was closed to her PB for second in the B discus.

The field highlight was in the final event as the javelin duo of Louise Mathews and Emma Christmas earned maximum points to give a late surge to the club’s tally and lift them to a fine fourth in a close-fought contest as only 3.5 points covered third to sixth places.

The league standings coming forward meant that the Havering squad needed at least a third place finish and be three places and over 25 points in front of either Southampton, Glasgow or Cardiff. But these squads finished second, third and fifth on the day to secure their places in the division to consign Havering to the drop.

So despite finishing in the bottom two only once in the three fixtures the team ended up two points adrift of safety – in fact as the results went nothing short of outright victory would have guaranteed survival.    

Link to full results