ACOMB Hockey Club men’s first team suffered two narrow defeats in a Yorkshire League division four double.

With numerous players unavailable, Acomb got an XI out to face Bradford University’s finest.

Acomb held their own but Bradford eventually broke the deadlock.

However, Harry Ellis struck a reply quickly to level.

There followed some great attacking play from Acomb, with fine ball skills and brilliant crosses from David Brown out on the right.

Man of the match Craig Brown and the rest of his defence did their best to keep the students at bay but Bradford found a way through to re-take the lead.

The home side worked their socks off to battle back, but could not find a leveller despite sterling efforts from John Armitage, Jonny Brown and Will Maclennan who stepped up from the seconds.

Gluttons for punishment, Acomb dragged their weary bones out on to the pitch to face Sheffield University VI.

The team changed a little from the previous day but was generally the same core.

The Tangerines got into their stride early on and gave as good as they got.

Acomb drew first blood courtesy of man-of-the-match Ellis, who somehow looped the ball over the goalkeeper with a reverse stick strike.

But Acomb’s goal had the effect of merely spurring Sheffield on. They came back strongly at Acomb to force two goals.

Neither team relented and worked equally hard.

Some fantastic stick skills from Dave Richardson saw him beat three players down the right flank and along the base-line.

He drew the goalie and slipped the ball to Ellis to slot it home for an equaliser.

Despite several short corners Acomb could not convert them to goals.

With the time on the clock running out, Acomb were pressing very high up looking to get the winner.

But this ultimately cost the game as Sheffield caught Acomb on the break to score the winner.

There was a 2-2 draw away to Halifax in the Yorkshire League division six north for Acomb men’s seconds.