Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC) men’s 1st team sit clear on top of the Southern One table after a 2-0 success over one of their rivals for the divisional top honour, Dart.

SOHC made a good start retaining possession well and controlling long periods of the first half.

Going forward, Chris Bishop was able to find space down the right side on a number of occasions. It was through this avenue that the opening goal was scored - Nick Mansfield turning in (not tapping in) a pull back from Bishop.

However, and not for the first time this season, despite playing so well, the team were unable to find finishing to match the approach and half-time arrived with the sides separated by that one goal.In the second half, SOHC continued to dominate and, with a slightly more positive edge to their game, were able to dominate both possession and territory.

The game became physical with the opposition putting in some ‘meaty’ challenges. Both sides lost a player to the sin bin – Dart, at one stage, played with nine! With 10 minutes to go SOHC wrapped up the points when George Harvey Powell netted.

The SOHC Man of the Match award went to the impressive George Mutter.

Tomorrow (Saturday) table-topping SOHC – they hold a three points lead at the summit – head for an away fixture against East Devon, who sit eighth in the table with a current home record this term of two wins, two draws and two defeats in their six matches of far.