Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC) fifth team shared six goals when they entertained Yeovil and Sherborne B in a South East Three meeting, writes Steve Ellison.

The team went into the match without influential captain Andy Dockley, missing a second successive match day through illness.

The side that took to the pitch was another young one, but, collectively, they gave a good account of themselves.

In a positive start they took the lead when Alfie Crick pushed home at the right post following a flowing build-up.

They were then awarded a penalty flick when a defender’s foot stopped a certain goal. Andy Coley lifted his effort straight at the keeper to miss the opportunity to extend their lead and SOHC went into half-time with a slender 1-0 advantage.

The visitors struck back with their first attack of the second half, slicing through the sleeping midfield and defence and scoring in a packed D. End-to-end play followed without either team stamping its authority on the game.

Fifteen minutes into the half, Williams took on the keeper after a breakaway and scored with a low shot hard shot from the right to give SOHC a 2-1 lead. Treeve Harris, put through by his father, cut across the defence at the top of the D and rifled a stunning strike high into the right corner of the net, launching wild celebrations from the spectators! With a 3-1 lead, SOHC looked to have the points in their sight!

However, it wasn’t to be! Yeovil continued to press and attack with the home team unable to win the battle of the midfield and to retain the ball higher up the pitch.

They were first awarded a penalty flick which, they converted to make it 3-2. Their third came after a moment of indecision in the home D which was punished with a sharp finish to tie the game.

With plenty of goals in the game, SOHC deserved their first point of the season and continued to build on the good work from their previous game.

This Saturday (November 5), the fifth team play East Devon D at Sidmouth (1.30pm).

SOHC: Smale, Dudding, Wright, Plant, Ellison S, Harris S, Harris T, Williams, Crick, Chun J, Mutter G, Coley, Cortinhas G.