POOR defensive work at three short corners saw Gorleston suffer defeat at the hands of mid-table rivals Norwich Dragons II in the NE14 East Men's Hockey League.

POOR defensive work at three short corners saw Gorleston suffer defeat at the hands of mid-table rivals Norwich Dragons II in the NE14 East Men's Hockey League.

Welcoming back Adam Stone after a six week lay-off following shoulder and facial injuries received in a pedestrian crossing accident both sides showed plenty of commitment and good hockey but it was the visitors who got the breaks when they needed them and the final scoreline was hardly a fair reflection of overall play.

The first 25 minutes was very evenly matched before Dragons Rob Panter slotted his first short corner strike. That was quickly cancelled out by Gorleston's Michael Tadross who coming on for the injured Mark Vaudin was allowed too much room to advance into the visitors D and fire home an unstoppable shot past the keeper.

Just before the interval Dragons were awarded a penalty for a defender's intentional infringement at the other end but Panter's flick was superbly saved by Barney King back in the Gorleston goal.

Six minutes after the break Dragons restored their lead as Will Kirby who had been lively up front all afternoon neatly turned his marker Andrew Lilly and broke away to slot the ball under the advancing Barney King.

Then in the space of five minutes came the short corner goals which sealed their victory. First Will Kirby was first to Barney's rebound and for the second week in succession the ball took a wicked deflection off a defender into the Gorleston net before Pete Mares wrapped up the scoring when his switched strike was partially saved by Barney. Andrew Lilly, on the post, could only watch helplessly as the ball rebounded off his stick and inches over the line.

With still some 15 minutes of play Gorleston were by no means out of game but Dragons, perhaps understandably with their lead, were content to shut up shop and some of their physical defending was over-zealous to the point that on other days they might well have seen players sin-binned for professional fouls.

Final score: Gorleston 1, Norwich Dragons II XI 4

Next week Gorleston, who now drop to fifth in the league table on 31 points, travel to King's Lynn to take on eighth-placed Pelicans II. Push-back is at 3.30pm at Lynn Sports Centre and transport will leave the Albion at 1.15pm.