ACOMB Hockey Club’s Men I beat Yorkshire League division two strugglers Tadcaster Magnets 3-2 at their Energise Sports Centre pitch.

After sweeping the ice off the playing surface to let the game go ahead, it took mere minutes for Matt Dickenson to open the scoring, slotting home at the second time of asking from Pete Hilton’s ball.

The Tangerines were playing some quick and accurate hockey, while Tadcaster relied on a long-ball tactic – which proved fruitful when they drew level after a quarter of an hour from a penalty corner.

However, Acomb struck back in the closing stages of the period, with Carrick Blacker first latching onto a loose ball to hit home with a reverse-stick strike, before Hilton and Dickenson paired up again to provide a two-goal cushion.

A more evenly-matched second half saw Tangerines keeper Craig Brown called into action after 10 minutes, and Acomb were again rescued when a shot from a penalty corner found the net but was disallowed for being too high.

Tadcaster eventually pulled another goal back, despite the midfield work of Carl Brindley, David Richardson and Ryan Smith, and good covering from Stuart Baxter, Dave Bell, Baz Whitfield and Simon Theaker.

With five minutes remaining, Tadcaster sent a penalty corner routine wide and the Tangerines held on to claim a league double over their local rivals and remain fifth in the table.

Acomb II sit third in division five north after a late goal gave them a super 1-0 home victory over Harrogate V - avenging their loss to the same opposition two weeks earlier, and costing the visitors top spot.

The Tangerines had several chances on goal in the first half, but each was thwarted by fine goalkeeping from the Harrogate stopper, while Acomb’s Richard Crossland was also required to make some saves.

Player-of-the-match Andrew Jarman made a number of good runs up the right flank as Acomb continued to pile on the pressure in the second half, but they were once again kept at bay by the visiting keeper.

Harrogate had fewer chances at the other end, although Paul Kellett was needed to slide in to deny the visitors a goal.

With five minutes remaining, Acomb’s persistence finally paid off as Tom Brown connected with a reverse shot and sent the ball drifting into the net.

The visitors had a penalty corner on the final whistle, but could not convert.

Acomb Ladies remain second in Yorkshire Women's League division one, five points adrift of Sheffield Hallam, after their fixture at third-placed Pocklington was called off because of poor weather conditions for the second time in two weeks.