NOW: Pensions men's hockey round-up and results, Feb 9 2014
10th February 2014The quarter finals of the NOW: Pensions Men’s Cup provided shocks galore as the three remaining Premier Division sides were dumped out.
Beeston have won 10 of their 12 league games thus far and sit at the head of the Premier Division table. But they couldn’t take their form into the cup as Conference North leaders Brooklands Manchester University beat them 4-3.
David Flanagan, John Crossley, Aiden Khares and Peter Friend had given Brooklands a 4-2 lead with Jonny Ruiz and Sam Ward on target for the favourites.
It was just a matter of hanging on for Brooklands and despite Richard Lawrence slotting home for Beeston in the final minute, they progressed to the semis.
Premier Division strugglers Cannock faced Conference East outfit Oxted and took a lead through Peter Jackson. But Dafydd Charles equalised for Oxted and the game went to a penalty shootout. The tense contest ended in a 12-11 sudden death victory for Oxted and they also go into the last four.
Sevenoaks also pulled off a big win, beating Hampstead and Westminster 3-2 thanks to goals from Mike Holland, Will Goulstone and Mike Barber. In the other cup game, Old Loughtonians beat fellow Conference East side Bromley and Beckenham 3-1.
There were also two games in the NOW: Hockey Men’s Premier Division with Loughborough Students facing Canterbury and Wimbledon hosting Surbiton.
Loughborough and Canterbury saw a frantic end to their game with five goals in the final ten minutes. Isaac O’Connor looked to have won the game for Canterbury with a late brace but Ian Sloan popped up with a last-gasp strike to make it 4-4.
Matt Daly scored a hat-trick for Surbiton as a late comeback from them saw their game against Wimbledon also end 4-4.
A Gareth Andrew double helped Holcombe keep their spot at the top of the NOW: Pensions Conference East. Danny Hall scored the other goal in a 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove. Southgate are level on points but are well behind on goal difference.
Bowdon scored a superb 9-4 win over West Bridgford to keep Brooklands in sight at the top of the NOW: Pensions Conference North. Josh Cropper was their star man with a hat-trick.
Indian Gymkhana are the new leaders of the NOW: Pensions Conference West after Team Bath Buccaneers slipped up against third-placed Cardiff. Bath lost 2-0 and Indian Gymkhana made the most of it by beating Isca 3-2 to go top.
NOW: Pensions Men’s Cup (Sunday, February 9 2014):
Brooklands MU 4, Beeston 3; Cannock 1, Oxted 1 (Oxted win 12-11 on penalty strokes); Old Loughtonians 3, Bromley and Beckenham 1; Sevenoaks 3, Hampstead and Westminster 2.
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Sunday, February 9 2014):
NOW: Pensions Premier Division: Loughborough Students 4, Canterbury 4; Wimbledon 4, Surbiton 4.
NOW: Pensions Men's Conference East : Teddington 7, St Albans 2; Brighton and Hove 0, Holcombe 3; Cambridge City 1, Southgate 2.
NOW: Pensions Men's Conference West: Guildford 1, University of Birmingham 0; Isca 2, Indian Gymkhana 3; Cheltenham 3, University of Exeter 3; Cardiff and Met 2, Team Bath Buccaneers 0; Havant 2, Fareham 5.
NOW: Pensions Men's Conference North: Olton and West Warwickshire 6, Leek 2; Belper 5, Deeside Ramblers 3; Khalsa 2, Wakefield 3; Bowdon 9, West Bridgford 4.