NE14 Hockey East Men's LeaguePremier AHarleston Magpies 2 Letchworth 0HAVING not won for two games Magpies knew they needed to produce their best hockey to get anything out of this top-of-the-table clash, they proceeded to produce their best display of the season.

NE14 Hockey East Men's League

Division One

Harleston Magpies II 2 Letchworth 0

HAVING not won for two games Magpies knew they needed to produce their best hockey to get anything out of this top-of-the-table clash, they proceeded to produce their best display of the season. Letchworth arrived at Weybread with a run of 26 consecutive victories and returned to Hertfordshire having been soundly beaten 2-0.

Magpies started the game strongly and were rewarded with a goal from their first short corner of the game with a Will Harrison drag flick. They continued to press and had a number of chances to increase their lead. Will Harrison hit the post and had another drag flick saved from the Letchworth keeper. Robbie Kinsella produced an excellent reflex save from the keeper, whilst Martin Fields and Duncan Steven both went close.

Magpies' midfield of Si Hipwell, Dave Francis, Lawrence Baynes and Robbie Kinsella were dominant and when Fields and Steven were replaced Jamie Legg and Jamie Stacey continued to cause the Letchworth defence problems. At half time the only frustration for Magpies was that they were only one goal up.

The second half followed a similar pattern, Letchworth gradually started to come to terms with the water base surface. Magpies' nerves were eventually eased when a Harrison free hit from midway in the Letchworth half found an un-marked diving Sam Moore to deflect the into the roof of the net.

Magpies' defence of Phil Cobbald, Sam Moore, Will Harrison and Craig Snelling had dominated the Letchworth forwards to such an extent that it was 15 minutes before the end before John Livings touched the ball. The latter stages of the game got scrappy with Letchworth being reduced to 10 men for a while and Magpies playing out the last few minutes with nine following yellow cards for Lawrence Baynes and Martin Fields. Despite Letchworth having a two man advantage they could not break through the now nine man Magpies' defence, the closest they got was a deflected cross off Phil Cobbalds stick clipping the outside of the post.

Man of the match was Sam Moore, although it was the performance of the whole side which should be credited. A special mention should go to the hardy Magpies band of spectators (for the majority of the game included keeper John Livings) for braving the weather.