HOCKEY: Swindon edged out after prolonged break (From Swindon Advertiser)

HOCKEY: Swindon edged out after prolonged break

8:40am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Local

SWINDON were narrowly edged out by Westbury and UB in their first game in a month.

The recent poor weather has left Swindon short on match action and upon their return, they were defeated 2-1 in Premier Division 2.

The Isambard outfit began well and Luke Cejer opened the scoring, following good work by Chris Parsons and debutant Adam Faraq.

However, at this point Swindon began to self-destruct. A well-struck reverse stick shot from the edge of the D resulted in the ball bobbling over keeper Alan Gough’s foot and into the net.

In the second half, Westbury took the lead as a shot from the top of the D hit Lawrence Gruijters and deflected beyond Gough, and that was how it stayed.

Swindon midfielder Jake Biddle said afterwards: “I know we haven't played much recently and we looked short of match fitness, but the effort just wasn't there.”

Gloucester City are Swindon’s visitors at Isambard on Saturday (11am), before the Wiltshire side make the trip to Robinsons in Bristol on Sunday.

In Premier Division 3, Marlborough thumped midtable PGSOB 4-0 while there were plenty of fixtures in North Division 1 as both Chippenham and Cirencester played twice.

Struggling Chippenham lost 3-1 to Newent before holding Bristol & West to a 3-3 draw. Rock-bottom Cirencester were 3-1 by Yate and hammered 13-1 by Swansea Uni.

In the Avon Division, Wootton Bassett lost a 6-5 thriller at home to fellow midtable side Somerset Gryphons, while bottom outfit North Wilts were sunk 3-2 by visiting Old Bristolians.

None of our local women’s first teams were in action at the weekend.

l SWINDON A men continued their push for promotion with a thumping victory against local rivals Devizes B.

Among the goals were Mikael Smith (3), Jaap Sinnige (2), Matt Bunce (2), Danny Baker (2) and Guy Tippin (2).

Doug MacLeod scored his first goal in 30 years of senior hockey - from the penalty spot - to round off a crushing victory.

On Sunday, Swindon A also drew 3-3 with West Wilts B, as Chris Hambling, Sam Dharmasiri and Dave King netted.

Swindon B drew 1-1 with Chippenham B and Swindon C smashed Chippenham D 10-1. Among the goals for the C side were Gary Upfold (2), Andy Fraser (2), Andrew Kettlewell, Peter Gilbert, James Salmond, Tim Taylor and Jake Dodwell.