WISBECH Town men’s first team’s cup dream ended in defeat to Guernsey on Saturday - but a stunning double hat-trick from Gary Freear ensured the seconds stayed unbeaten.
Wisbech Town Hockey Club
A CUP trip to the channel islands ended in defeat for the men’s first team on Saturday as they were beaten 6-3 by a powerful Guernsey side.
More than 300 fans watched as Jonathan Shippey’s side exited the England Hockey Trophy at the third-round stage.
Roared on by their home crowd, Guernsey dominated the early exchanges and cruised into a 3-0 lead.
But, after the hosts had two players dismissed for bad challenges, Gavin Johnstone struck from a well-worked penalty corner routine to give Wisbech hope.
Guernsey restored their three goal advantage after the break, and although Joe Melton and a fine solo goal from Brad Apted gave the visitors more to cheer, the channel islanders were too strong.
Wisbech return to their Premier B promotion campaign on Saturday with a trip to rivals Long Sutton.
• A DOUBLE hat-trick from hotshot Gary Freear fired the table-topping men’s II to their 14th win of the season.
Hosts Alford and District took an early lead in Saturday’s clash but after Freear equalised, it was one-way traffic.
Hugo Atkins grabbed Wisbech’s second before the ruthless Freear struck five more goals to hand his side an impressive 7-1 triumph.
• WISBECH Ladies shipped two goals in the last 10 minutes as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Bury St Edmunds.
Marly Lawson had put Wisbech ahead before Bury’s rally handed them the points. Alysha Moat was player of the match.
• THE ladies’ II donned new kit as they played out a tense 1-1 draw with promotion rivals Newmarket.
The team were presented with the Fenmarc-sponsored strip before Saturday’s game, by the company’s operations manager Ian Olive.
Joey Gomm’s second-half strike almost saw them mark the occasion with a win, but Newmarket claimed a share of the spoils with a late equaliser. Player of the match was Steph Hanlon.
• A DEFLECTED Dom Stannard goal was all the men’s III had to shout about in a disappointing 4-1 loss to Cambridge South II.
Long Sutton Hockey Club
A CLASSY Cambridge University II side smashed the men’s firsts 7-0 on Saturday but a Leanne Woodhead double and a Sarah Walker strike earned the ladies’ firsts a 3-1 win over Ipswich III.
• HAT-TRICKS from Nick Bailey and Ben Shore inspired the men’s II to a 9-1 hammering of Spalding III while the thirds claimed a 3-0 victory over Spalding V. The men’s IV were beaten 3-1 by Spalding IV.
• BRACES from Anna Smith and Jeorgia Carr set the ladies’ II on their way to a 5-3 triumph over Horncastle II. Rachel Gadsden was also on target.
March Town Hockey Club
ALL three men’s teams tasted defeat in a dismal weekend for March.
The firsts were beaten 4-2 by St Ives, the seconds lost 3-1 at Horncastle and the thirds were pipped 4-3 by Bourne Deeping II.
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