Brigg Hockey Club avoid relegation with battling draw

The team earned a vital point at home against Leeds Hockey Club and then a similarly crucial point in a 2-2 draw in their final game of the season at Morpeth.

A share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw was a fair result from a game that Leeds had the better of.

The visitors dictated the play early on in the opening half before Brigg replied with some excellent hockey after the break.

Brigg were guilty of some slack defending in the first half and Leeds took the lead with a quick break and a first-time shot in the circle which rattled the backboards.

The visiting keeper then made some fine saves to thwart the Brigg attack with Andrew Reid going close several times.

But Leeds added a second goal before the break and the half-time talk from Brigg skipper Ben Treadgold was all about getting some momentum back into their game.

It took some time to get Brigg on the scoreboard despite some excellent attacking hockey as the home side fought with real determination to reduce the arrears.

Treadgold claimed a precious goal 10 minutes from time, crashing a reverse-stick shot home from an angle.

Brigg then scored the equaliser when Ollie Reid neatly struck home from close range to rescue a point which put enough distance between them and rivals City of York to secure another season at North League level.

The final fixture, away to Morpeth, in Northumberland, was the longest trip of the season.

* Brigg Men’s Second XI lost 6-4 away to City of York Fourths in Yorkshire League Division Two.

James Wood, Simon Weightman, Tom Reid and Andrew Norris were on target for the visitors who still need points from their final two games of the season to avoid relegation.

Meanwhile, Brigg Thirds lost 4-0 at home to top-of-the-table Rotherham in Division Four.