Cambridge City II promotion push stays on track in East Men's Hockey League
Cambridge City II maintained their promotion push with a 4-1 win over Chelmsford in East Men’s Hockey League, Premier A.
The sides went into the game level on points, and it was captain Samuel Rutter that eased any City nerves with the opening goal with a far post tap-in.
Josh Biddlecombe double the lead following a goalmouth scramble at the end of the half.
David Madden executed a finish from a well-rehearsed short-corner routine to make it 3-0 and Chris Wiseman got the fourth after a good solo run.
Chelmsford pulled a goal back, but City secured victory to take them to three points off second place.
Will Townley fired a late winner for Cambridge South as they beat Bedford II in Division One.
Two first-half penalty-corner conversions from Jim Hockley and Owen Harrison gave them the lead, but Bedford replied with goals either side of half time.
As both sides pushed for a winner, it was Townley that got it, capping a man-of-the-match performance with his first goal for the club in a key win as South battle to climb the table.
City III stay in the title fight in Division One after a 1-1 draw with East London II.
The visitors went ahead through a well-worked team goal, but City equalised through a top corner rocket from youngster Liam Sillis.
Cambridge Nomads gave leaders Wapping a close run for their money, before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat.
Nomads were down to 10 players when they went ahead, as Moritz Sirringhous bundled home Martin Hamon’s cross.
However, Wapping were level within five minutes and got their winner from another short corner.
Two goals from Ben Hudson helped Cambridge City IV stay within touching distance of the promotion battle in East Men’s Hockey League, Division 2S with a 7-2 victory over Saffron Walden II.
They averaged a goal every seven minutes in the first half, with Hudson slamming home two early drag-flicks.
Oli Gadsby made it 3-0 with a deft deflection, Tom Whitman had a simple finish and Phil Robinson converted Pip Dickinson’s cross to make it 5-0 at half time.
Walden pulled two goals back but Whitman got his second and Pete Wilkinson volleyed in a clearance from the keeper to complete the win and put City five points off the pace in the table.
Cambridge South II lost a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with St Neots in 3NW.
David Bagnall and Jack Chalk both scored within the first 15 minutes in a whirlwind start, but South were able to maintain the pace.
St Neots struck twice in the last 15 minutes as cards proved to tell against South.
It was a similar story for City Veterans, as they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with bottom club Bourne Deeping II.
Great skill by James Roca set up Jim Hill for the first goal, and a first-time sweep saw Nick Herd lob the on-rushing keeper for the second.
City almost had a third, but a quick counter led to Bourne pulling a goal back.
They then got an equaliser, and City ended up being thwarted by the Bourne keeper.
Paul Matthews scored a hat-trick for Cambridge Nomads II as they triumphed 5-2 over Wisbech Town II in East Men’s Hockey League, Division 4NW.
George Toff and Richard Lloyd, on his return from injury, were also on target.
Cambridge South III were overhauled by Bourne Deeping III.
Wingers Ed Boggis and player-of-the-match Peter Creed, with a volley, put South 2-1 up at half time, but Deeping hit back in the second half to win 4-2.
Ian Smythe’s efforts in goal for Cambridge City V could not thwart Kettering II, who earned a 3-1 win to go top of the league.
Smythe produced a number of top saves, but Kettering took the lead and could have gone 2-0 up through a penalty corner, but Simon Webb deflected the shot wide.
Doug McLeod was put through by Webb to equalise at the start of the second half.
But Kettering made the most of two defensive injuries to score twice for the win.
Man-of-the-match Oli West and Nev Warren notched doubles for Cambridge South IV in a 5-1 win over Kettering IV in East Men’s Hockey League, Division 5NW.
West started the scoring with a close-range finish after good work from Stu Creed and got his second through an individual effort.
Jason James’ pinpoint 50-yard pass on the fall set up Warren to make it 3-0, but Kettering got a goal back before half time.
Rob Barton deflected home Jason Coltman’s cross and Warren got his second to complete the scoring.
Mike Mitcham scored for Cambridge City VI but they were beaten 2-1 by St Neots II.
Tom Harris, Jude Watts and Garth Hanlon were among the scorers for Nomads III as they won 5-1 against Kettering IV in 6NW (S).
South V earned a fourth straight win, beating St Neots IV 4-0.
They initially made heavy weather of things against a Saints side that began the game with nine men and no keeper. But a first goal for the club from Avi Sharma, two from John Greaves and one from Paul South did the damage.
Cambridge City withstood a late fightback from Chichester to earn a 3-2 victory in the Men’s Hockey League, Conference East.
Will Jones had given them the lead in the first half, and strikes from Eddie Harper and Euan Gilmour made it 3-0 after 42 minutes.
But two goals from Ollie Baxter saw Chichester produce a late rally.
City are second in the table, six points behind leaders Wapping.
They play host to second-from-bottom Bromley & Beckenham this Saturday (November 30).