Holcombe’s Lucy Wood returned to the field after a year out injured on Saturday but broke her hand the next day.

The teenager had just battled back from a cruciate ligament injury to help Holcombe to a 4-0 win over Old Loughtonians.

But Wood’s joy turned to despair the following day when a freak accident in the EH Cup game against Gloucester left her with a broken right hand and facing another 12 weeks on the sidelines.

“Saturday was incredible and I started the game as well,” said the 19-year-old forward, who was making her Holcombe debut. "It was a surreal moment after being out for a year and it all came back to me quickly. The knee felt fine.”

Wood set up one of the goals in the Conference East game, as Holcombe comfortably beat their opponents.

“Coming back on Saturday was the best thing and I was buzzing,” she said.

“I had endured a year where sometimes I got so upset I would just start crying but I received great support from my friends and family and free fitness training from my friend Jordan Stannard, three times a week. I want to thank them all so much."

The hard work paid off as she was able to make her Holcombe debut, having joined in the summer from Sevenoaks but the smiles didn’t last.

“In Sunday’s game, the ball smashed into my hand but I played on and shook off the pain,” said Wood. "But at the end of the game, when I removed my glove, the hand looked disgusting. It was gross. When I was told it was broken I just couldn’t believe it. Life can be so unfair sometimes but you just have to get on with it.”

The positive news this time around is that because of hockey’s winter break, she is likely to only miss a handful of games and is already looking forward to a January return.

Read the full story in Friday's Medway Messenger