NE14 HOCKEY EAST MEN S LEAGUE DIVISION SEVEN NORTH WEST Ely City 4th XI 4 March Town 5th XI 1 CHAMPIONS March ended their season in a total farce on Saturday. They arrived expecting to play Ely City 4th XI in a match rearranged from March 15, but instead

NE14 HOCKEY EAST MEN'S LEAGUE DIVISION SEVEN NORTH WEST

Ely City 4th XI 4 March Town 5th XI 1

CHAMPIONS March ended their season in a total farce on Saturday.

They arrived expecting to play Ely City 4th XI in a match rearranged from March 15, but instead found themselves up against an Ely City 1st XI, who were expecting to play March Town 1st XI in a friendly.

Having clinched the title last week, March decided to test themselves against higher league opposition.

The visitors were 1-0 down within five minutes and their defence then had to be on their toes to keep out a couple of penalty corner attempts.

The young March side got themselves back into the game on 15 minutes when David Haslegrave forced home the equalising goal.

Within two minutes however, Ely City had regained the lead, and March did well to keep it at 2-1 until half-time.

It was 3-1 almost straight after the re-start, but again March dug deep to contain a vastly superior side for most of the second half.

A number of the March players are nursing minor injuries following some robust tackling and Ely wrapped up the game and the points with a fourth goal.

It was a good run out and a good tester for life to come next season in Division Six North West.

March ended the season with 11 wins, two draws and five defeats. They scored 81 goals and conceded 42.

NE14 HOCKEY EAST MEN'S PREMIER DIVISION B

Long Sutton 1st XI 8 Redbridge and Ilford 1st XI 1

A COMPREHENSIVE display rounded off Sutton's season in fine style.

Dominating from start to finish, the home side may have scored more, yet found themselves one down against the run of play.

This was the kick-start that Sutton needed as they plundered eight without reply, Gary Hales with a poacher's hat-trick, Ben Smith with a brace and Nick Bailey and Jimmy Harrison adding to the tally. Danny Sisson claimed the goal of the game with a superb reverse-stick strike.

Sutton welcomed Albert Slator into goalkeeping duties and he settled superbly well, marshalling the defence and coming up with a couple of top class saves.

A man of the match performance came from Jeremy Watt in the midfield, and this superb outing will offer great confidence for a side who aim to challenge for honours next season.

NE14 HOCKEY EAST MEN'S DIVISION THREE NORTH WEST

Wisbech Town 2nd XI 5 Ely City 1st XI 3

PROLIFIC striker Jody Betts scored four goals for the second successive week to help Wisbech end their season on a high.

Betts had completed his hat-trick within 20 minutes and he was well supported by a hard-working midfield.

The goal of the game however came from Robin Johnson who found some space and coolly finished with a good shot.

Ely attacked with grim determination in the second half and pulled it back to 4-3 before Betts fourth put the result beyond doubt.