Hockey: North Stafford pick up away point

NORTH Stafford were left disappointed after only managing a point from a 2-2 draw at Midlands One strugglers Streetly.

The home side, who sit second-from-bottom after just two wins all season, stunned North Stafford when they converted an early penalty corner.

However, it didn't take long before the visitors levelled matters when Stuart Stanway showed his clinical nature to fire home from a set-piece.

North Stafford emerged for the second half on the front foot and took the game to a defensively-minded Streetly.

Randall Moore carved out an opportunity for Aaron Sherwani, who put the finishing touch to a fine move to put the visitors 2-1 ahead.

But they only had their noses in front for a short while when, from their only foray into the North Stafford D in the second half, a lapse in concentration allowed Streetly to equalise.

North Stafford pinned the hosts back in the final 15 minutes, but couldn't find a way through a well-organised back line.

STONE recorded a much-needed 3-1 home victory over Kings Heath Pickwick in Midlands One.

They were given a helping hand to break the deadlock in the formative stages when a drilled shot was deflected into his own net by a Kings Heath defender.

Several chances were subsequently created, but the hosts failed to convert the opportunities to stretch their advantage.

But in the early stages of the second half, they did double their lead when a swift counter-attack resulted in skipper Matt Holmes lashing home.

Kings Heath, though, were handed a route back into the match when they capitalised on a short corner to breach the Stone rearguard.

Stone restored their two-goal cushion when fine skill by Jon Allchin played in player-coach Dave Smith, who made no mistake from close range to seal the spoils.

STAFFORD shared the spoils with Old Wulfrunians in their West Midlands One encounter.

Adam Kyle and John Peatfield were on target for Stafford, but Alan Brown and Ricky Lally replied to earn Old Wulfrunians a 2-2 draw.

BARLASTON were on the receiving end of a 7-3 defeat from their West Midlands Two trip to leaders Ludlow.

Barlaston welcomed back Brett Green and Gareth Morris to the ranks, but they had no answer to the table-toppers, who registered a seventh win in eight outings.

Andrew Richards helped himself to a hat-trick, with doubles from James Pratt and Matt Blount completing the rout.

The visitors grabbed some semblance of consolation thanks to strikes from Josh Forrester, Rich Lewis and Green.

The free-flowing home side quickly seized the initiative with two powerful runs and finishes from Blount – helped by some poor defending – putting them 2-0 ahead.

And Barlaston's mission became virtually impossible when two cheap short corners were conceded, which allowed Pratt and Richards to make it 4-0 at the turnaround.

To their credit, the visitors came out fighting in the second half with the inventive Seb Lewis providing a hat-trick of assists.

He crossed from the right to hand Forrester the chance to put Barlaston on the scoreboard, before his short corner was expertly finished by Richard Lewis.

Any hopes of continuing the comeback were ended when Green was banished to the sin bin for some reckless challenges, which opened the floodgates.

Richards bagged a couple of short corners to complete his hat-trick, while Pratt was quickest to react to a goalmouth scramble to also fire home.

Green had the last word on his return to the fray when he latched on to Seb Lewis' pass to score from the top of the D, but it mere consolation.

SOUTH CHESHIRE men picked up a useful point with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool Sefton in their North Division Two (West) encounter.

CREWE VAGRANTS Ladies lost 2-1 at Oldham in North Division Two South West.