By DAVID COULTER

Published at 07:41, Wednesday, 20 March 2013

TYNEDALE Hockey Club’s first team were too hot to handle as they faced the second string for the first time this season.

In the much anticipated derby of first versus third in the North East Hockey Club Development League, it was the league leaders who continued their 100 per cent record. They struggled to break through initially, leading scorer Tom Cant well marshalled by Mike Read and the rest of the team being generally crowded out.

The firsts finally started to get the measure of their counterparts with Richard MacFarlane called into action, while a couple of efforts came back off the post.

While the second team started to string a few passes together, the firsts looked more dangerous on the attack and Dan Burns was unfortunate to watch his shot crack the crossbar.

The deadlock was finally broken when James Rainford found Cant in the shooting circle, his attempt deflecting between Read’s legs and past MacFarlane.

Most of the second team’s attacks came through Will Massey or Best and it was they who were the happiest when the teams went into the break despite trailing by one goal.

Five minutes into the second half, and the seconds received a set back with Read’s back injury forcing changes in the team. Before they could settle, though, firsts had another two goals to their name and it was ultimately game over.

After heroic blocking from the seconds, first captain Ed Crawford curled the ball around the post and into the net before Cant made it three when the ball bounced to him to gratefully dispatch.

Three behind and with 15 minutes remaining, the seconds collapsed with fatigue spreading through the team.

Burns was given the space to torment the opposition defence and he drifted to the top of the circle unmarked to smash home a fourth, before sprinting along the baseline to create the opportunity for Jack Beattie to fire home.

Even the firsts going down to 10 men following Crawford’s withdrawal with a back injury could not hamper their momentum, Beattie adding another.

Cant completed his hat-trick and, having little to do at the back by now, Rob Bragg got forward to round off the scoring.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk