Lowestoft 2, Gorleston 1THE hockey league season in Division Three North-East of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League opened with a fast and frenetic local derby encounter which Lowestoft were lucky to win.

Lowestoft 2, Gorleston 1

THE hockey league season in Division Three North-East of the NE14 East Men's Hockey League opened with a fast and frenetic local derby encounter which Lowestoft were lucky to win.

On a difficult pitch at Kirkley laid only two weeks ago, within five minutes two players had to be sin-binned for an off-the-ball incident and the captains told to cool their sides.

Gorleston were the better side with powerful midfield performances from Andrew Lilly, Adam Stone, Martyn Vaudin, Richard Pallant and Simon Long. But Lowestoft had some energetic performers in Neil Hutson and the Veevers-Chorlton brothers who were always swift to take advantage of the occasional break or any slipshod defending.

And after 15 minutes Marcus Veevers-Chorlton nipped in the score past an unsighted Barney King, back in goal after injury.

The game continued at a furious pace with Russ Crawford and James Clarkson leading the Gorleston line and on 25 minutes they equalised.

From a quickly-taken push-in on the right wing, James crossed for Russ to nip ahead of his marker and squeeze the ball inside the near post.

After the interval Gorleston pressed forward and it needed man-of-the-match Justin Halliday, in the Lowestoft goal, to make several fine interceptions to keep them out.

But the hosts were always in with a chance and after 15 minutes Neil Hutson poached what proved to be the winner.

The game was far from over and as the Lowestoft defence battened down the hatches Gorleston pushed forward with several well-worked moves - one Halliday save was particularly memorable as he stretched from nowhere to beat out a Russ Crawford shot.

Next, Gorleston play their first league game at home, against Ipswich IV with push-back at Cliff Park community pitch at 2.30 pm.