CANTERBURY Hockey Club ladies' skipper Mel Clewlow refuses to write off the remainder of the season after suffering more away-day blues with Saturday's 1-0 away defeat to EHL English Women's Premier League basement side Sutton Coldfield.

Clewlow's fellow England international Jane Sixsmith scored with the hosts' only on-target shot of the game after 33 minutes to dent Canterbury's play-off hopes and lift Sutton Coldfield off the bottom.

By then, Canterbury should have been well ahead of the game having won several short corners and seen half-a-dozen shots well saved by the home keeper.

But, as has been the case in the majority of their long-haul league fixtures this season, Canterbury struggled to break down a home defence intent on survival and packing players behind the ball.

The visitors paid the ultimate price when Sutton Coldfield intercepted a miss-controlled pass across the face of Canterbury's defensive circle. The ball was hit into the D for Sixsmith to control, beat her marker and score past an unsighted Natalie Westcar with a shot that deflected off defender Lucy Barr.

Canterbury had three chances to level thereafter, but the forwards went for power rather than guile in trying to beat the home goalkeeper and the opportunities went begging.

"I wasn't hitting the ball as well as I should have from the short corners and we didn't take the other chances as we know we can," said Clewlow after her side's sixth defeat of the campaign.

"It's frustrating that we keep playing this way, particularly when we are away from home, but at least we've made the relegation fight that little bit more interesting by giving Sutton Coldfield three points.

"We've only taken four points away from home this season and it's a trend we've been aware of over the last couple of years. We don't know why it is, but we must work harder when we're away from home."

The bonus for Clewlow and Canterbury is that three of their five remaining games are at Polo Farm, but the England defender is keen for her side to improve in this weekend's double-header against Ipswich and Slough.

"We were fortunate that all of Saturday's other results went our way," added Clewlow.

"Four of the games to go are against sides above us so we still have an outside chance of making the play-offs.

"At the same time, we don't want to be drawn into action at the other end of the table."

Canterbury hope to be at full-strength this weekend after welcoming back twins Frances and Christina Houslop who are available again after sitting examinations.

Team: Natalie Westcar, Jenny Milne, Mel Clewlow, Lucy Barr, Jackie Hulme, Kate Sibley, Nicky Litchfield, Jackie Laslett, Vanessa Lines, Meg Buchanan, Anna Bennett, Sarah Kent, Juliet Chapman.