Hockey: IoM senior teams lose out in EH Championships

But Under-14 Boys beat Preston to progress

Three of the Isle of Man's senior national hockey sides tasted defeat in their latest England Hockey Knockout Championship matches over the course of last weekend.

During a rare-double header of EH Championship games on Island, The Isle of Man Ladies A suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of a clinical Liverpool Sefton Ladies 1st XI in the EH Ladies Tier 2 KO Championship second round.

An 11-goal thriller followed at the NSC in Douglas which saw the Isle of Man Men's A narrowly lose out 6-5 to Preston Men's 1st XI in the second phase of the EH Men's Tier 2 KO Championship.

There was even later heartbreak in the EH Men's Tier 3 KO Championship for the Isle of Men's B who were beaten on shuffles by West Bridgford Men's 2nd XI after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

However, there were positives elsewhere courtesy of one of the Island's junior squads as the Isle of Man Under-14 Boys overcame Preston on shuffles after a 2-2 draw to progress in their competition.

In the first of two cup contests in Douglas on Saturday (14 December) the IoM Ladies A side found themselves battling against a clinical Liverpool Sefton who raced into a 3-1 lead at half-time with Kim Carney on the scoresheet for the Islanders.

The Merseyside visitors then put the contest beyond doubt by adding a fourth and decisive goal in the second period.

The following showdown saw the Isle of Man Men's A make a dream start against Preston Men's 1st XI by sweeping into a 2-0 lead in the opening ten minutes through goals from Andrew Whiting and Alex Andrew.

However, Preston came roaring back to hit the net four times without reply in the space of around 15 minutes to lead 4-2 at the break.

Preston added a fifth after the restart but the Isle of Man wasn't done battling, getting two goals in response with a second for Andrew and a strike from Archie Cox to get back in contention at 5-4.

But the Lancashire outfit would restore their two-goal cushion late on with a sixth and - despite Tom Burrows setting up a grandstand finish to make it 5-6 - the Manx squad were unable to level in the closing stages.

It was an even closer tussle across the water for the Isle of Man Men's B up against West Bridgford 2nd XI as both teams played out a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.

Ciaran Gell had opened the scoring to put the Isle of Man in front on 9 minutes before West Bridgford eventually found an equaliser with ten minutes left in the second half.

Down to the lottery of shuffles to decide the game, West Bridgford would emerge victorious, netting two shuffles compared to one from the Isle of Man.

From penalty shuffles heartbreak there to penalty shuffles delight for the Isle of Man Under-14 Boys side in the EH Under-14 Boys Tier 2 KO Championships at West Cliff.

The young Island side battled to a 2-2 draw in normal time with Adam Ellis scoring both for the Isle of Man visitors.

The travelling players would then hold their nerve to take a 2-0 victory on shuffles to progress.

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Results

Saturday, 14 December 2024

EH Women's Tier 2 KO Championship Second Round

Isle of Man Women's A 1-4 Liverpool Sefton Ladies 1st XI

EH Men's Tier 2 KO Championship Second Round

Isle of Man Men's A 5-6 Preston Men's 1st XI

EH Men's Tier 3 KO Championship Second Round

West Bridgford Men's 2nd XI 1-1 Isle of Man Men's B 

(West Bridgford win 2-1 on penalty shuffles)

Sunday, 15 December 2024

EH Under-14 Boys Tier 2 KO Championship Second Round

Preston 2-2 Isle of Man

(Isle of Man win 2-0 on penalty shuffles)