Late agony for Bay as they suffer a league defeat to Deeside

HOCKEY

WHITLEY Bay and Tynemouth HC’s senior men’s side fell to a late 6-4 loss to North Premier League leaders Deeside.

Deeside ended the first half with a slim 2-1 lead as both teams played a defensively tight game and tried to play on the counter-attack.

After Bay hit the post twice it was Deeside who took the lead through a well-worked deflected goal - only for Bay to respond through a Michael Pollock penalty- corner drag-flick.

Deeside re-took the lead on the stroke of half-time with a penalty corner, a strike which separated the teams going into the break.

The second period was a more open affair as the lead swapped back and forth as both teams threw caution to the wind.

Bay drew level and then took the lead through efforts from Alex Lockey and Jonathan Stoddart.

In reply, Deeside took full advantage of another penalty corner which was flicked past the helpless McEwen to draw the sides level again.

Bay thought they had secured the win when Alex Lockey rifled into the upright of the Deeside goal with 10 minutes remaining - but it was not to be.

Three times in a row Deeside were awarded penalty corners and again each was dispatched with excellent flicks past McEwen as the visitors took a two-goal lead. Bay tried to fight back but only went close to a reply when a last-minute penaltystroke claim was waved away.

Bay travel to Liverpool on Saturday to take on fellow mid-tablers Formby HC.

■■BAY’S men’s second string stay top of their league by two points following a 4-2 success against Newcastle Medics.

■■THE senior ladies’ squad beat Stokesley 2-0 but the seconds lost 2-0 to Newcastle Firsts.