With the playing availability woes as they were at Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC), the fact the men’s fifth team game was cancelled helped in terms of fielding a full 11 to play the men’s fourth team fixture against West Dorset.

It proved to be a special afternoon for the fourth team as they recorded only the second win of their South East Two campaign, and the three points they banked may yet help them avoid a bottom two finish in the section.

Steve Ellison and Dan Baldrey scored the goals that helped SOHC claim a 2-0 win. The winning margin would have been greater had the ‘goal’ scored by Andrew Coley not flown into the net only to be chalked off as the ball had struck his big toe before arrowing its way past the visiting goalkeeper!

With five games to play, SOHC fourths are now just five points from safety. On Saturday (February 17), they play the club’s B team in an in-house derby and a third win of the term would strengthen hopes of completing a great escape!

After this weekend’s club game, SOHC’s final four games are: East Devon C (H), Taunton Vale (A), Minehead B (H) and Chard A (A).