Horncastle HC secure 5-0 win at rivals Louth

Horncastle Hockey Club's Men's Firsts secured a 5-0 win at Louth on Saturday.

They started strongly, passing well and creating some early chances, taking a deserved lead through an excellent drag flick into the bottom corner from Tom White.

Needing to find a second, Horncastle pushed on and it arrived just before half time, Sam Spendlove latching onto the end of Ash Barkers shot at the back post.

Horncastle started the second half moving the ball well through the Louth midfield, leading to Nick Bennett calmly slotting the ball between the goalkeeper's legs for number three.

A fourth quickly came, Bennett again working the ball well from the top of the D and flicking the ball into the bottom right corner.

Seb Darke, facing his former side, was controlling the midfield, picking any lose balls from the opposition.

Goal number five came when Max Foster scored at the back post, wrapping up a comfortable 5-0 victory and moving Horncastle to second in the league after four games.

Horncastle Men's Seconds hosted Cambridge City Sixths - winning 4-1 as they top the table.

Thomas Scuffham opened the scoring with a lovely reverse stick hit, a feat he duplicated later in the half to give Horncastle a 2-0 lead.

Horncastle continued strongly with a move that started right at the back, great passing eventually seeing Tommy Leggate score the third.

Julian Howden was forced into a save but from the rebound Cambridge secured a penalty flick t0 make it 3-1 at the break.

The second half saw Horncastle pushing hard and Zak Legate coolly finished off an attack with a great touch that saw Horncastle lead 4-1.

Zak and one of the Cambridge players were later given yellow cards, and one of the Cambridge players saw green for dissent.

The Ladies' Seconds made the long journey to Saffron Walden, where they lost 2-1 in a close contest.

Horncastle won a penalty corner, which Emily Tokelove calmly slotted into the bottom right corner.

Captain Tamsin Roark set the bar high with an inspiring and positive half-time speech and the Horncastle team went into action hungry for the win.

Saffron Walden scored on the break when an unmarked purple shirt calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Horncastle were unlucky to obtain two nasty injuries in the game, which disrupted the defensive line up and Saffron punished the travelling team for this when a loose pass was intercepted as they secured a 2-1 win.

Player of the match was Lexi Leyland.

The Ladies' Seconds were beaten 7-0 by St Neots Seconds.

Horncastle knew this would be a tough match and St Neots dominated the first half and were 3-0 up at half time.

Horncastle started the second half positively and quickly won a short corner, which narrowly missed the right hand post.

The opposition were just too strong for the inexperienced Horncastle team, however the home side did not stop fighting and created a couple of chances.

Player of the match goalkeper Jodie Leigh, who made multiple saves throughout the game.