Sidmouth Hockey Club continued their fine start to the season with a narrow defeat to Isca 2nds last Saturday.

Sidmouth Hockey Club continued their fine start to the season with a narrow defeat to Isca 2nds last Saturday.

With both teams fielding a younger team to cope with the hot weather conditions, Sidmouth started the game in an encouraging manner, creating a number of early opportunities.

The second pre-season game of the year was another opportunity for the players to practice the new rules that were introduced at the start of September.

Sidmouth lost an early goal but were undeterred and continued to play their own game, making the most of the speed, determination and enthusiasm of newest recruit Toby Devine.

Sidmouth's persistence paid off and they were rewarded with their own, with ex-national league player Tom Mason scoring his first goal for the club, after missing an easier chance last week.

With first choice centre back Paul Gannon absent due to injury, the re-shaped back line were unfortunately unable to prevent another goal despite the best efforts of Charlie Plowden who has recently found himself in the unfamiliar position of right half, but with the added help of his new "go faster" shoes.

Soon after the re-start Sidmouth conceded a third, but, after a few wise words from their newly-elected captain Ian Brown, Sidmouth were soon back to within one goal, after Mason scored his second of the game.

With Sidmouth on the front foot, and starting to play with more confidence, they were soon back on level terms after a well converted penalty flick from Andrew Welch.

Despite working their way back into contention, Sidmouth conceded a fourth towards the end of the game, resulting in a disappointing yet creditable 4-3 defeat.

There are many positives that will be taken forward into the last pre-season game at home to Taunton Vale this weekend, where the team will hopefully be able to welcome back Scott Rowson who missed the game with a career threatening back injury, which was aggravated whilst umpiring the ladies' earlier in the day.

The club would like to thank the new 1st team sponsor Adrenalin Games, the paintball site at Crealy, who have kindly sponsored the team for the forthcoming season.