Chelmsford Highway went continental over the Bank Holiday weekend when they travelled to Holland as part of their pre-season preparation.

They took part in a six team tournament which included the Chinese National team and several top Dutch league sides.

It was a tough schedule with three games in two days but it was valuable match practice and gave coach, Pete Fordham the opportunity to try out different things and assess the new players who have come into the squad this season.

The first game on Saturday saw Chelmsford pitched against one of Holland's top three sides, HDM.

Chelmsford began brightly by creating good opportunities with good movement and passing.

They got their just reward when newcomer Tammy Nancoo fired home her first goal for the club 10 minutes before half time.

In the second half HDM picked up the pace a little and Chelmsford found it hard to recapture their first half form.

The Dutch side equalised and then grabbed the winner from a penalty corner 12 minutes from time.

The result was a little harsh on Chelmsford who felt a draw would have been a fairer reflection of the game.

Within 90 minutes Chelmsford were back on pitch to play another Dutch team, Pinok.

Already deprived of the services of their captain, Jo Green with a back injury, Chelmsford also lost defender Marie Arber, who suffered the recurrence of an old injury in the first game.

Pinok, who were playing their first game of the day, were obviously the fresher of the two sides and took an early lead, while Chelmsford struggled to get going.

The lead was doubled within five minutes and it looked as if it might turn into a rout.

Chelmsford, however, showed all the commitment and determination which has become their trade mark in recent seasons and by half time were back in the game at 2-1 from a Julie Parrott penalty stroke.

The second period proved to be difficult for the English side.

An injury to new-comer, Hazel Mansfield, reduced them to 10 fit players and when Nancoo went off suffering with cramp, Chelmsford were temporarily down to nine on the pitch.

With the heat beginning to take its toll the Dutch shot into a 4-1 lead.

Stand-in captain, Lynn Bollington got a goal back for Chelmsford from the penalty spot, but Pinok finished the game off with a fifth goal near the end of the match.

Disappointed but not down hearted, Chelmsford re-grouped for Sunday morning's fixture against host team, MEP.

A sluggish start was almost inevitable after the exertions of the previous day, but once they had loosened up, Chelmsford gradually took a grip of the game.

Tracy Wilmore fired them into a 1-0 half time lead.

In the second half, Chelmsford took 10 minutes to get back into their stride by which time MEP had equalised.

After this, however, it was one way traffic with Bollington, Mansfield and Sarah Fretwell all unlucky not to score, and the Dutch goalkeeper kept her side in the game with a string of excellent saves.

Chelmsford kept plugging away and inside the final five minutes got the winner they deserved.

The impressive Becky Alltree fed Bollington who had the simple task of knocking the ball into an empty net.

It was a great way to finish the weekend on a high, but on an occasion when performances were more important than results, coach Pete Fordham travelled home happy in the knowledge that his side had shown plenty of positive signs for the coming season.

With five or six players still to come into squad that travelled to Holland, the prospects for Chelmsford are encouraging as they look to consolidate their position as newly promoted to the Premier Division of the National League.

Marie Arber, who suffered an injury in Chelmsford's first match.

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