Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club (SOHC) men’s 4th XI gave a good account of themselves against table-topping North Devon before being beaten 5-2.

With North Devon arriving for the game sitting top having scored 41 goals in an unbeaten six game start to the season, SOHC knew they were in for a tough time.

Their task was made to look all the harder as the visitors scored twice in the first 20 minutes – one a well-worked flick and the other from a goalmouth scramble. However, SOHC were clearly not prepared to simply ‘lie down’ and they responded well with Steve Ellison netting after a slick right flank move and half-time arrived with the table-toppers holding a narrow 2-1 lead.

A spirited half-time chat clearly hit the mark for the team made a superb flying start to the second half and it was no more than they deserved when Woody Thorp held his composure when faced with an on-rushing glovesman, to steer the ball home and level things up at 2-2!

Clearly stung at being pegged back, North Devon shoed just why the sit top as they moved up the gears with a brace of goals to hold a 4-2 lead.

SOHC thought they had again scored when Rich Lucas fired home, but after a short spell, the umpire ruled the shot to have been taken from outside the D.

North Devon then forced keeper Dan Weedon into an impromptu save with his shoulder with the rebound being tapped home by a North Devon striker to put the final nail in the coffin despite SOHC appeals for a dangerous ball.

So, beaten they may well have been, but SOHC can be very pleased with their collective performance against a top outfit.

Tomorrow (Saturday), SOHC travel to fellow strugglers Yeovil and Sherborbne B (2.30pm).