Here is the report. I could not find an action photo so have offered the match programme and match sheet. If neither suits please let me know and I will see what else we can find.

Old Loughtonians men’s 1s remain top of the East conference of the England Hockey National league after an impressive performance at home against Bromley & Beckenham who played some excellent hockey themselves. This was an important game for the team. Without a win since mid-November (after a series of draws) it was important for the team to secure all three points and to continue to keep the baying following pack at distance.

Having drawn 3-3 in the away fixture the players knew that they would need to keep patient and remain disciplined throughout the game and work around the defensive BromBeck set up whilst staying alive to the significant counter-attacking threat of the BromBeck forwards especially from their crossfield long range passing.
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Tom Watson, dubbed “Marksman” got Loughts off to a fine start with a goal from open play in the fifth minute after some intricate interplay with Max Heaver. Captain Conor Caplan also had one or two fine probing runs that came close. At the other end Dan Brown made one particularly fine save to keep Loughts’ noses in front at half time.

At half time Loughts had played some excellent attacking hockey and were 1-0 up but had not scored the complement of goals that the performance deserved.

Having sat back in the first half BromBeck, urged on by their coach, came out with intent in the third quarter and a well organised and skilful Loughts midfield and defence did well to hold them off in a quarter which their coach described as their best performance all season. Brown again made some excellent reflex saves as did the BromBeck keeper who thwarted a series of Loughts chances. Up front Loughts continued to create opportunities with Harvey Edwards making some intelligent runs creating time and space for the team to relieve the pressure.
Nathan Gladman and Martyn Lear up front worked tirelessly to close down the opposition threat and prevent long diagonal balls penetrating the penalty area.

Marksman finally settled the nerves with another fine goal in the last quarter to secure all three points. There was a frantic last 5 minutes after BromBeck took off their keeper to create superior on-field numbers. However, undaunted, Loughts kept a man in attack to threaten the unguarded BromBeck goal and a well marshalled midfield and defence prevented a threat to the goal until 20 seconds from the final whistle when BromBeck were awarded a penalty corner but man of the match Brown dexterously palmed away the final shot of the match to keep a clean sheet.

This was a really good team performance and hopefully Loughts can build again from this.

Elsewhere in the league 2nd and 3rd played each other with Spencer winning 3-2 against Wapping to stay 3 points adrift of Loughts. London Wayfarers are now third after winning 2-1 away at London Edwardians and Richmond 4th after a 6-3 win against West Herts. Loughts play Hamstead & Westminster next Saturday.

It was a slip date weekend in the East league and only two teams were in action. The men’s 3s Foresters had an excellent 3-2 away win against a physical Plashet 1s to stay second and the men’s 5s Loppers won 2-1 away at Old Southendians 3s.

On Sunday the girls u16s lost 3-1 at St Albans but the boys u16s won convincingly 4-1 against local rivals Southgate.