ACOMB Hockey Club Men I lost ground to Yorkshire League division two rivals with a 5-2 loss at Halifax II after seeing their team reduced by injury.

The Tangerines took the lead in the third minute through a Matt Dickenson penalty corner drag flick and could have gone further ahead had Tom Brown made contact with an aerial pass from man-of-the-match Karl Brindley when one-on-one with the keeper.

It was an even first quarter, and Halifax emphasised this setting up a tap-in from close range before taking the lead with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

Acomb drew level after the restart as an Anthony Daley shot rebounded off the keeper and was driven home by Dickenson from a tight angle.

But Acomb defender David Bell then had to be taken to hospital for stitches after an off-target reverse strike struck him on the eyebrow.

A man light, the visitors struggled to contain Halifax and conceded three more goals - two from penalty corners and one with the final play of the game.

Acomb Men II are now unbeaten in seven outings and remain second in division five north after a 5-0 win at Harrogate VI.

The hosts started strongly, earning two early penalty corners, but they could not find a way past the Tangerines' defence, who instead mounted a counter attack and netted through Anthony Daley.

In a two minute-spell, Tom Brown trebled the visitors' lead, finishing neatly before slipping through the defence and slotting past the keeper.

Harrogate continued to create chances but were unable to get past the strong Acomb defence, highlighted by Richard Crossland's excellent penalty corner save 10 minutes after the restart.

Daley netted the visitors' fourth with a reverse stick sweep before Andrew Jarman opened his account for the club, while Harrogate's search for a consolation continued in vain.

Acomb Ladies demonstrated their credentials as promotion contenders in Yorkshire League division one with an emphatic 6-1 win at home to Lindum II - despite the absence of four key players.

The visitors took the upper hand in the first quarter of the game, beating Acomb's returning keeper, Steph Barker, but the Tangerines assumed control of the game after that.

Dominant in possession throughout, the hosts played some excellent hockey with good link-ups from the defensive line through player-of-the-match Vicky Wrigley in midfield and Hannah Yoward up front, who twice scored to give Acomb a half-time lead.

The Tangerines needed some strong defence after the restart as Lindum pushed hard for a leveller, but instrumental play from Wrigley, a hat-trick from captain Kerry Woods and Gemma Bolton's strike sealed a good win for the third-placed side.