Canterbury’s rescue act

Charlie Lloyd-hughes, Paddy Brookson and Nick Buckingham struck on Saturday for Canterbury men’s 2nds who fought back for a 3-2 win at secondbottom Lewes 1sts in the South East Premier Division.

Lewes quickly went two goals in front - scoring through a counter-attack, and then getting a second after more nice play.

But Canterbury then came into the game and Lloyd-hughes converted a short corner before a counter-attack gave the away side their equaliser.

Josh Kitson played through Brookson to round the goalkeeper and send a rocket into the top corner. More good Canterbury play in the second half saw chances come and go until the final five minutes when Brookson passed to Buckingham who scored with a reverse hit, five yards from goal, to seal their victory.

Canterbury’s player-of-the-match was Charlie Jain. The result leaves them third-bottom.

The second-placed men’s Friars returned after a six-week break to edge past Maidstone 4ths in SE Division 8 Invicta.

Tony Jones got the game’s only goal while their player-of-the-match was Tony Jones, who also has England over80s trial this week.

Two-goal player-of-the-match Henry Goodwin led Canterbury Millers to a 3-0 win over Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds.

A marauding run out of defence and a well-timed pass from George Holdstock set Goodwin up to beat the last two defenders and round the keeper for the opener.

Minutes later, Chris Goulden played an incisive ball into Craig Cholerton whose effort deflected into the opposition net.

A second goal for Goodwin early in the second half put the result beyond doubt and Ollie Neal was unlucky to be denied another by the post late on.

Canterbury men’s over-50s lost 2-1 in the last 16 of the EHA Cup to champions Reading despite Dave Sharp’s effort. A fine display by player-of-thematch Alex Hewett wasn’t enough for Canterbury ladies’ 3rds in their SE Division 1 East 3-2 loss to struggling Bexleyheath & Belvedere 1sts. They were dominant in the first half, winning three penalties, one of which was converted by Hewett, only for the visitors to level from a penalty. Canterbury continued playing attacking hockey, with Moira Clewes scoring from open play.

After the restart, however, Bexleyheath & Belvedere struck twice to win the game.