NE14 HOCKEY MEN S LEAGUE PREMIER B DIVISION St Neots I 4 Long Sutton I 7 GARY Hales second-half hat-trick helped Long Sutton recover from an early setback and romp to an emphatic victory. The visitors went behind early on, but the g

NE14 HOCKEY MEN'S LEAGUE

PREMIER B DIVISION

St Neots I 4 Long Sutton I 7

GARY Hales' second-half hat-trick helped Long Sutton recover from an early setback and romp to an emphatic victory.

The visitors went behind early on, but the goal sparked them into life and from then on they never looked like losing.

Fine interplay down both flanks from Dan Batten and Nick Ellis resulted in an equaliser for Nick Bailey.

A Ben Smith penalty corner took the visitors into half-time with their noses in front.

From here Sutton turned up the pressure and cantered to a 7-2 lead - Hales' three goals were complimented by a second for Smith and a blistering Nick Ellis drive, whilst fine defensive work from Simon Clarke, man of the match Stu Belding and sweeper Ash Taylor kept the home side at bay.

During the closing stages, Sutton coasted and gifted St Neots two more goals but by this stage the result was never in any doubt.

PREMIER B DIVISION

Colchester 1 Wisbech Town 2

WISBECH maintain their position at the summit of Premier B with a hard-earned victory.

It was a goalless first half and in the second Wisbech scored first with a Drew Harvey strike.

Colchester leveled almost immediately, but Matt Levanda scored the winner with a well-taken close-range finish from a short corner.

Colchester almost stole a point near the end. A shot from a short corner bounced up just in front of James Sheppard.

The Wisbech keeper did well to keep it out but couldn't direct the ball to safety. A Colchester player lifted the ball goalwards only to see Shippey deny him with an excellent stop.

DIVISION THREE NORTH WEST

Wisbech II 1 Market Deeping I 6

WISBECH were hosts to a team who scored 22 goals in their last match.

This did not show early on, as Wisbech pressed the visitors with a series of attacks.

But Deeping took the lead after a defensive error led to the first goal.

It was a similar situation that gifted the second and the third Deeping goals.

Wisbech continued to fight strongly during the second half, but Deeping were clinical in front of goal.

A deflection from the stick of Gary Freear gave Wisbech their consolation goal.

DIVISION FOUR NORTH WEST

Wisbech III 3 Cambridge City 3

WISBECH picked up a valuable away draw. It was a well-fought match with the hosts playing some superb possession hockey.

Matthew Goodwin and Tim Wong played brilliantly in midfield linking up well to provide the attack with some good chances in front of goal.

Cambridge struck first but it did not take Wisbech long to reply.

Some excellent battling led to Richard Claxton striking a short corner past the City keeper.

Sam Dunn was next on the scoresheet after another well-struck short corner.

But Cambridge were not beaten, as they dragged the scoreline back up to 3-2. Richard Claxton won a penalty flick which Karle Belding took for the equaliser.

Wisbech man of the match was Richard Claxton.

DIVISION SIX NORTH WEST

March IV 1 Long Sutton III 5

SOME attacking fireworks from Long Sutton brought them a comfortable win on Saturday.

Andy Shore returned to the side and bagged a brace of goals, leading the forward line excellently.

Daniel Booth helped himself to a couple of first-time strikes and skipper Ian White notched a short corner goal.

It was not all plain sailing though, especially at the start of the second half, when March came out fired-up and slipped a shot past Luke Lovegrove. That brought the score to 2-1, but Sutton rallied with Jack Thorp impressive in defence, and eased away from their hosts, finishing the game at a canter with some deft wing play from Jake Loweth.