Hockey: Acomb hit top form to start 2012 (From York Press)

Hockey: Acomb hit top form to start 2012

10:42am Tuesday 17th January 2012 in Hockey

IN-FORM Acomb Hockey Club men’s II maintained their 100 per cent start to 2012 with a 2-1 home victory over Halifax V in Yorkshire League division seven north.

The Tangerines, who are now third in the table, started strongly and the Halifax ’keeper was made to work hard.

However, the visitors took the lead after a failed clearance allowed them to score. The remainder of the first half – aside from a saved Halifax shot – belonged to Acomb and they levelled when a short corner was put away by Paul Kellet.

Acomb opened the second half in a confident mood, and their mounting pressure was almost rewarded when Kellet’s thundering strike rebounded off a post. Peter Hilton finally got Acomb’s second goal, placing the ball beyond the Halifax ’keeper to round off a fantastic team move.

Halifax then turned the screw in an all-out assault on the Acomb goal in search of an equaliser.

However, the visitors were denied by a superb defensive display from Steve Piggin, Dave Morris, Dave Timmins and ’keeper Martin Grainge, the Tangerines’ man of the match.

Acomb I’s game against Wakefield IV in division four was postponed.

Only two games involving City of York sides went ahead after a series of postponements.

A young City of York III side crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Rotherham I in Yorkshire League division one.

The hosts took the lead against the run of play before half-time. After the break, City played some excellent hockey and kept possession for long periods but were unable to create a single opening for a shot on goal. Rotherham punished them for it by scoring twice in the latter stages of the game.

City of York IV were edged out 2-1 at division three leaders Scarborough I.

The hosts took the lead following a controversial free hit, the ball ricocheting twice before hitting the back of City’s net.

Despite two attempts by Matt Hays to get City onto the scoresheet, Scarborough went in at half-time with a one-goal lead. Scarborough went further ahead after the break with a goal that came from a tight-angled shot.

However, City were not overawed and came back into the game with Chris Bolt pulling a goal back with a hit from a short corner.

Several chances were created by Hays and Alex Lewis, but goals eluded them. The first-team, who were due to host Wakefield I in the North League premier division, will continue their fight against relegation away to University of Leeds I on Saturday.