HOCKEY East Men s League Division 2N St Ives 2 Sudbury: 1 SAINTS came back after the Easter break and could be excused for having one eye on next year s challenge of Division 1 hockey. They faced a Sudbury side that have achieved notable results against t

HOCKEY

East Men's League Division 2N

St Ives 2 Sudbury: 1

SAINTS came back after the Easter break and could be excused for having one eye on next year's challenge of Division 1 hockey.

They faced a Sudbury side that have achieved notable results against the teams in the top half of the league but who disappointed the watching public with very negative second half tactics.

Much like the first encounter between these sides the first half started scrappily with neither side getting to grips with the game but as the half went on Saints started to take control of the game with good ball movement down the wings.

The deadlock was eventually broken by man of the match Derrick Pope who fired home after a flowing passing move around the midfield.

St Ives doubled their lead soon after when Pope turned provider as he squared the ball across goal for Ian Basser to control and flick in to the net.

Sudbury pushed on at the end of the half and gained reward with a penalty stroke - gratefully converted - after Ives failed to clear an earlier loose ball.

The second half of the game saw Sudbury opting to play in an ultra-defensive manner despite losing the game, and a baffled crowd watched as Ives just held the ball in their own half without challenge.

On the odd occasion that the visitors took the game to Ives Simon Johnson in goal made some excellent stops and the hard work from front to back in the Ives ranks saw them hold out for the win and another three points in what has been an outstanding season.

St Ives II journeyed to Ely with several youngsters included and made their way home with a 3-2 win courtesy of two goals from Alex Cade and a James Cahill strike.

It was all square at 3-3 after St Ives III fought for much needed points against Market Deeping. James Cahill netted two and Phil Yetzes once but the result leaves Saints' fate out of their own hands.

A 3-1 win was just reward for St Ives IV, who had Rob Brand and Michael Wilderspin, with two, to thank for the goals, while St Ives V took a real hammering in their 6-1 loss at March..

St Ives Ladies drew 1-1 at Harleston Ladies as their season closed with them finishing in eighth place. Helen Clarke netted the Ives goal in the closing minutes to grab a point, while St Ives II got the better of Cambridge South in a seven goal thriller.