16.02.10 - MENS 1STs AND 2NDs TOP THEIR LEAGUES:
In a great weekend for the 1sts and 2nds they both secured victories to take top position in their respective leagues. The 2nds won at home against Spencer 3-2 and moved two points clear in their Higgins Group London Hockey League Division 1 and the Mens 1s won a tough encounter with Canterbury at home on Sunday in front of a great home crowd to move above their Kent opposition on goal difference. See Mens 1s report following:
On Sunday the Mens 1st team faced league leaders Canterbury in the knowledge that a win would see them take the place at top of the league on goal difference. Canterbury started very strongly, putting the Old Loughts defense under a great deal of pressure and creating several early shooting opportunities. But Loughts dug deep and rode the early storm and began to threaten the Canterbury goal. Darren Cheesman came close but on 22 minutes Alex Jennings popped up to convert a penalty corner. Old Loughts were then immediately forced to defend their lead and once again held strong to take their slender advantage into the break.
After the break, Canterbury’s relentless attacking brought them back on level terms when a penalty corner was deflected into the Old Loughts net. With the teams level the game began to open up, but both teams snubbed out everything that the other could throw at it until on 56 minutes an Old Loughts break away saw James Stedman score after linking up with Darren Cheesman and Adam Wheater. Old Loughts continued to hold firm against a series of penalty corners and even being reduced to ten men for the last five minutes did not prevent them gaining their most important 3 points of the season so far. On Sunday they face local rivals and third placed Southgate in another vital game.
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