ND Hockey push league leaders all the way

North Devon Hockey Club, sitting fifth in the West Men's Divison 2 South league, travelled away to top-placed Devonport Services 1st XI on Saturday.

With centre-midfielder Sam Kirkness back from a month's rest, the visitors put out a strong team that was confident of forcing a positive result at the newly-promoted league leaders' fortress, where they haven't lost so far this season.

Nevertheless, as is a typical trait in in the North Devonians' play so far this season, the away team started slowly, nonchalantly inviting the opposition upon them. Goalkeeper Sam Wormington produced numerous saves to keep his team in the match, but North Devon eventually succumbed to the pressure, conceding a goal from a short-corner half-way through the first half.

However, a breakaway goal five minutes later, against the run of play, scored by a scintillating strike from right-midfielder Phillip Brand, galvanised the visitors. They then won a short-corner moments later, which was duly converted by striker Guy Cockcroft at the back post.

A third goal should have come moments before half-time, as Cockcroft again found himself with an opportunity on the post, but his effort was fired straight at the home goalkeeper.

North Devon started the second half brightly, controlling a lot of the possession, but a stray pass across the back saw Devonport capitalise and send the scores level with 20 minutes to play. As legs in the away team began to tire, gaps opened up in defence; a 30-yard dash from the home centre-forward, who slotted past Wormington, meant that North Devon had it all to do in the last minutes of the game to gain a point.

Guy Cockcroft had the best chance of the remaining opportunities, unfortunately sending his unobstructed shot wide of the Devonport goal, meaning a 3-2 loss for North Devon.

Written by Michael Cuthbertson