Haigh earns Eastcote a giantkilling victory

Home side knock out higher placed West Hampstead HOCKEY

Haigh netted the decisive goal from a tight angle while visitors West Hampstead, who play a level above, were down to nine men, and put Eastcote into round three with a 2-1 victory.

David Cooper had put the hosts ahead after the interval but West Hampstead converted a penalty stroke to equalise.

However, Haigh scored the winner as Eastcote capitalised on two red cards for their opponents to give Eastcote the win. The win came a day after a comfortable 6-0 win against Marlow that leaves Eastcote third in MBBO Division One.

Haigh hit a hat-trick, Alex Stobbart scored two and Sam Forster netted the other as Eastcote controlled the game from start to finish.

In the same division, Ed Richards scored for Old Merchant Taylors’ in a hard earned 1-1 draw at home to Maidenhead.

Meanwhile, Eastcote ladies were downed by three second half goals as they lost to Epsom and slipped to eighth in South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division Two.

Eastcote started the game brightly and Claire Devereaux tested the Epsom keeper with a snapshot from near the top of the D in a goalless first half.

Epsom got the breakthrough in the second period and doubled their advantage as the Eastcote backline was stretched chasing an equaliser.

A controversial third goal was then scored at the death as Eastcote stopped for one umpire’s whistle, but the other official decided to wave play on.

Elsewhere, Old Uxonians Ladies slipped to eighth in Middlesex Women’s Ladies Division Two following a 4-0 defeat at the hands of NPL Ladies’ seconds.

The Uxies were without Lou Kelsh, who suffered a fractured eye socket in last week’s abandoned game with Ashford seconds, and found themselves 3-0 down in the first half.

They fought hard in the second half but unfortunately conceded a fourth.

In the same division, Old Merchant Taylors’ Duchesses earned a 4-2 victory over Ashford to remain fifth.