Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC) men’s first eleven claimed their second win of the season and they are now unbeaten in three games after a 2-1 home victory over Taunton Vale!

The first half was even-steven with a number of chances created, but SOHC were not able to find a finish to match some polished approach play.

Early in the second half Taunton Vale edged ahead following a poor effort from Simon Baker to let in an easy short corner.

However, the SOHC response was very good and the lively Sam Cortinhas won a penalty flick which Richard Robinson fired in to the top of the net.

It was no more than SOHC deserved when Nick Mansfield netted the games third and final goal to seal the points.

Late on the Somerset side threw everything they had in a bid to net a second, but Baker atoned for his earlier error with a string of wonderful saves to ensure that SOHC took the points.

Teenager Billy Rudolph was named the SOHC Man of the Match for his outstanding shift in midfield.

SOHC men’s 2nd XI were well beaten in their meeting with Duchy 1st XI, going down 6-0. One feature of the SOHC line up was that the average age of the team, with five regulars missing, was just 17 which augers so well for the future. James Broad and Manners Jnr both impressed having stepped up from the club’s third eleven.

The men’s third team were so unfortunate in their game as they went down 2-1 to Ashmoor.

The team played some of their best hockey of the season and took the lead with a great goal from Dan Hart, striking from the top of the D. Ashmoor levelled in the closing stages of the first half. After the break SOHC stepped up the intensity of their game and came mighty close to getting a second before, late on, a fortunate short corner was won by Ashmoor and they duly netted the winning goal.