Leaders dish out the stick to see off an under-strength Whitley

HOCKEY

UNDEFEATED Northern Premier Hockey League leaders Brooklands HC proved too strong for a depleted Whitley Bay and Tynemouth HC men’s squad.

Bay travelled to Manchester four players short of full strength - and ended up losing 5-2.

Only one goal separated the two sides in the first period, Brooklands playing the better hockey but left frustrated by Whitley’s defence.

The home side broke the deadlock on eight minutes from a penalty corner drag-flick, which beat Jordan Thompson low to his right post.

Whitley Bay huffed and puffed but failed to test the Brookland’s goal until 10 minutes before half-time when captain Jervis Fleming levelled after being set up by Steven Hill.

Bay thought they were going to reach the half-time break all square.

However, an error taking the ball out from the back let Brooklands in down Bay’s left and it was not long before Thompson was beaten by a strongly-hit reverse stick low across his goal.

The second half started off almost as a carbon copy of the first, Brooklands opening the scoring nearing the 10th minute of play again from a penalty-corner dragflick.

Again Bay fought back and on the 20th minute Hill turned from provider to scorer, sweeping the ball home from close range as the Brooklands defence failed to deal with a crash ball.

Whitley started pushing for an equaliser and were it not for three fine saves and better finishing they would have been deservedly level.

However, Brooklands began to retake control and in the last five minutes grabbed two more goals.

Bay’s men’s seconds lost 2-1 to Durham City while the thirds drew 6-6 with neighbours North Shields. ■■BAY’S senior ladies team earned a 1-1 draw at Didsbury.

It was 0-0 at half-time but Bay came out on the front foot on the restart.

They took the lead from a penalty corner courtesy of Joss Plummer, only for Didsbury to then equalise.

The women’s seconds drew 0-0 with Durham University.