Josh Biddlecombe hat-trick helps Cambridge City stop Deeside Ramblers in their tracks in Men's Hockey League

Josh Biddlecombe hit the winning goal to complete a hat-trick as Cambridge City won 5-4 at Deeside Ramblers in Men’s Hockey League, Division One North.

The hosts took the lead, but two goals from Biddlecombe and one from Alex Bilalis-Stone put City 3-1 up after 20 minutes.

Deesidelevelled matters at 3-3 but Nat Farrant put City back in front after 54 minutes.

However, the Ramblers were to reply again to get back on level terms.

The final say then went to Biddlecombe, who sealed his treble to make it 5-4 with four minutes remaining.

Liam Sillis and Charlie Gilks hit the net for City II in a 2-1 win over City of Peterborough II in East Men’s League, Premier Division.

A quartet from Dilip Hendrickx helped City III to a 6-0 victory over Bourne Deeping in 1N.

All four goals came through penalty corner drag-flicks. Juan-Juan Bi got to the base line to set up Alex Johnson for a tap in, and Alex Winn closed out the scoring with a straight strike from a penalty corner.

Martin Hamon fired Cambridge Nomads’ goal in their 1-1 draw with Sudbury in 1N.

They went ahead through Hamon’s first-half strike from the top of the D, but were denied in adding to their lead by a top display from the Sudbury keeper. The hosts then drew level late in the second half.

Cambridge South had their second 3-3 draw in as many weeks, being held by Pelicans in 1N.

Mike Gillingham excelled in goal for South, but despite his player-of-the-match display, Pelicans struck three times.

Every time South conceded, they equalised, through Ed Doust’s drag-flick, James Bailey and Sam Highfield.

City IV were made to pay for being unable to take their chances as they lost 2-1 to Cambridge University III in 2NW.

City veterans put in a good performance despite a 6-0 defeat in 2NW to City of Peterborough III, whose heavily-loaded forward line included former City first-team coach Gareth Andrew.

South II were undone by Kettering’s sharp finishing as they lost 7-1 in 2NW.

Despite having a fair share of the general play, South were punished by the hosts’ counter-attacking game-plan. Player-of-the-match Dean Birch went on a mazy dribble from centre-back and when his shot was saved, Steve Jackson turned home the rebound to reduce the arrears to 4-1 at half time. But Kettering surged clear after the break.

Tom Blair got the only goal of the game as Cambridge South III won 1-0 at Bourne Deeping II in 3NW.

Injuries hit South, but Seb Dias deputised in defence and earned player of the match for a string of tackles and interceptions.

Blair’s goal came through a break and a teasing chip over the keeper.

A young Cambridge City V side ran into an experienced March Town in 3NW, being beaten 6-1.

Henry Denny-Gouldson made a return to goalscoring form, with a mazy run eliminating the keeper to allow a finish into an empty net.

Three late goals saw Nomads II slip to a 4-1 defeat to Wisbech Town II in 3NW.

After falling behind to the visitors, Arthur Gowland equalised for Nomads through a deft deflection. But Wisbech’s late pressure told with three goals.

Ed Willan and Tim Ireland were on target for City VI in a 2-0 triumph over South IV in 4NW. Teenager Thomas Grove impressed for South, but they were thwarted by a stream of good stops from the City keeper.