Colchester nick it

NE14Hockey East League - Premier B

St Neot's 2 Colchester 3

Colchester got back to winning ways with a victory away at St Neot's. With a much-changed side due to work commitments, Colchester called up Duncan Scott for the first time this season and gave a debut at this level to Andrew Walker.

These changes seemed to affect Colchester as they made a slow start against the side that are rock bottom of the League. However, Colchester had the first real chance of the match. Rohan Khaira made a good tackle in the St Neot's half and dribbled the ball into the D, with his shot just evading Walker at the back post.

St Neot's had chances of their own but were twice denied by good interceptions, first by Matt Foakes and then by Michael Pearce. St Neot's continued to attack and Colchester were lucky not to go behind when Liam Phillips in the Colchester goal was rounded, but the resulting flick shot just going over the bar.

St Neot's did take the lead midway through the half from the first penalty corner of the match. The resultant shot from the corner was poorly struck, but the ball found an attacker whose reverse stick hit found the back of the net.

This spurred Colchester into action as they pressed forward. Wayne Masters fired over the bar after good work down the right by Mark Kennedy. Colchester equalised through a penalty corner, with Matt Low firing the ball into the bottom right corner. Colchester continued to play good hockey and created chances with Pearce going close and Low having a second penalty corner strike saved on the line.

Colchester took the lead through debutant Walker late in the half. Masters picked the ball up on the half way line before finding Kennedy on the Colchester right. Kennedy's cross was cut out but the ball found its way back to Kennedy, this time his cross found Walker on the penalty spot. Walker neatly played the ball first time between his legs into the back of the net.

There was still time in the first half for Colchester to extend their advantage as Rob Mann played a nice one-two with Scott, before beating a defender and slipping the ball past the onrushing keeper.

The second half was a much quieter affair with neither side having too many chances in front of goal. St Neot's did get back into the match when they scrambled the ball past Phillips. A free hit to the hosts was played into the D where Phillips saved the first shot. However, he only cleared the ball to the back post where there was an attacker on hand to push the ball home.

Colchester had two chances to kill off the game but Scott's shot failed to beat the opposition's goalkeeper and Walker failing to get on the end of a Khaira cross. Hills Residential Man of The Match was Andrew Walker for his good running up front and goal on debut.