Early lead soon overhauled

Canterbury men

Canterbury’s men twice allowed a lead to slip to finish on the losing side as they went down 5-2 at unbeaten Wimbledon in the national Premier Division on Sunday.

Cale Cramer put the city club ahead from a penalty corner after just four minutes and although former GB star Simon Mantell levelled on 20 minutes, Craig Boyne converted a penalty stroke to put the city club back in charge four minutes later.

However, two goals in five minutes before half-time from Chad Conlon and a Nathaniel Stewart penalty corner strike turned the game and Peter Millar made it 4-2 midway through the second half.

Steven Ebbers had the final say four minutes from time when he added a fifth.

The second-bottom city club will seek to avoid a ninth defeat in 10 when Beeston visit Polo Farm on Sunday (1pm).

Canterbury 2nds bounced back to form to win 2- 0 at Wimbledon 2nds in London Premier Division.

Both teams looked shaky at the back in the opening exchanges but the visitors started to boss possession and Michael Farrer produced a strong flick to give the city club a half-time lead.

Farrer bagged another goal, from a short corner in the second half, after exchanging passes with Owen Holton and good keeping from Joe Elgar prevented the hosts from a comeback.

The city club sit second and host leaders Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday.

The Pilgrims eased to a 6-1 win over Mid-sussex in South League Kent/sussex Regional 2.

Harrison Smith tapped in the opener after good work from Oli Kent and Nick Townsend, Kent and Ed Marsh combined to tee-up Patrick Brooks to make it 2- 0.

Jake Smith’s short-corner strike made it three and after the break, Sam Biccarino scored a fourth with his first for the club and Smith made it 5- 0.

The visitors pulled one back before Biccarino completed the rout.

The 3rds lost 5-3 at Folkestone 2nds in South League Kent Area Division 1 despite a battling display and three quality goals, while the 4ths continue to struggle in the same division, losing 4-2 at home to Marden Russets to sit second-bottom.

The Millers ran riot against Ashford 3rds, winning 7-1 to go fourth in Kent Area Division 2.

The city club dominated and two goals each from Sushant Lama, Matt Bye, Paul Sharratt and a Mike Loveridge single sealed the points.

The 5ths lost 2- 0 at Gravesham in Kent Open Premier B, while the Griffins were edged out 2-1 at Cliftonville 2nds in Premier C.

Mark Batchelor opened his account for the season with a shot from the top of the D after good work from Jamie Tritton to cancel out the hosts’ opener but the hosts snatched the points.

The struggling Squires suffered a 1- 0 defeat at home to Bexley 3rds in Kent Open Division 1, while the Friars went down 3- 0 at Maidstone 5ths to lose ground in Kent Open Division 3.