North Devon Hockey Club complete perfect pre-season

North Devon Hockey Club completed their pre-league match schedule with a 2-1 win away to Exeter Hornets. The visitors found themselves a goal down after ten minutes, when a breakaway effort saw the Hornets' striker’s reverse stick shot beat an otherwise imperious goalkeeper Sam Wormington.

David Orr levelled the score soon after the break with a tap-in at the back post from a well worked penalty-corner. Then, fifteen minutes from the final whistle, a Guy Cockcroft aerial found the pulsating stride of Ashley Thorne, who brought the ball down with regal finesse and slotted in past the despairing dive of the Hornets goalkeeper.

The victory means that North Devon finish unbeaten in their friendly fixtures and will go into their first league match against title favourites Exeter City next weekend with confidence.

The 2nd XI also won their final pre-season friendly with an 8-2 home win against Exeter Hornets' 3rds. First half hat-tricks from Bradley Bellingham and Toby Spear left the score at 7-1 at half-time with little chance of the visitors claiming a victory. Nevertheless, a competitive second half means that they now feel battle hardened and ready for the league start on Saturday.