Colchester 5 Cambridge Nomads 4

NE14 Hockey East Men's League

Premier B

Colchester 5 Cambridge Nomads 4

COLCHESTER picked up a vital three points in their quest for survival edging a thrilling game against Cambridge Nomads.

Colchester started the day at the foot of the table whilst Nomads came into the game in good form and started strongly, creating early chances, but home 'keeper Grant Hibbert made some good saves to keep the scores level.

Colchester's best chance of the first half fell to Tim Wright whose firm shot was cleared of the line by a visiting defender.

The home side struggled to find any rhythm and they soon found themselves a goal behind when Nomads crashed in their first penalty corner of the match. The visitors doubled their lead shortly after as some sloppy play in defence allowed a visiting forward an easy chance to beat Hibbert.

After some strong words from coach James Southgate at half time Colchester created the first chance of the second half but Rob Mann somehow failed to convert an open goal. Nomads made Colchester pay making it 3-0 and the game looked over.

Mann then atoned for his earlier miss by scoring a fine individual goal beating two men at the edge of the circle before unleashing an unstoppable shot past the Nomads 'keeper.

This proved to be the catalyst for the hosts as Mann, who was now terrorising the visiting defence, soon added his second after going on another run before rounding the 'keeper and sliding in from a tight angle. Colchester were on level terms when Mann found Tom Philp who slotted into an empty net.

The visitors were shell shocked and Colchester looked like scoring with every attack. Mann was upended in the circle and a penalty stroke was awarded. Michael Pearce stepped up but his weak effort was easily saved by the Nomads 'keeper.

Nomads were reduced to 10 men after one of their midfielders was shown a yellow card for a poor tackle.

Colchester continued to pile forward and took the lead for the first time when Rohan Khaira swept in a switched short corner routine.

Mann was felled in the circle again and another penalty stroke was given. The visiting 'keeper was also shown a yellow card for the tackle. After a 10 minute delay, Khaira cooly converted the stroke against the stand in 'keeper to make the score 5-3.

Despite being down to nine men, Nomads were in no mood to give in, and reduced the deficit from a scrambled short corner.

The hosts should have made the game safe with both Philp and James Logan guilty of missing golden chances but they held out to secure victory and will be looking to build on this next week when they take on fellow strugglers Bury St Edmunds at home.

Rob Mann was named Hills Residential Man of the Match for his superb second half performance.