Felixstowe 4, Gorleston 1GORLESTON, at the unbeaten league leaders, gave a creditable performance. Felixstowe were unlucky last year to be relegated from Division Two North East of the NE14 Hockey East Men's League and they have since strengthened, determined to bounce straight back.

Felixstowe 4, Gorleston 1

GORLESTON, at the unbeaten league leaders, gave a creditable performance. Felixstowe were unlucky last year to be relegated from Division Two North East of the NE14 Hockey East Men's League and they have since strengthened, determined to bounce straight back. On this display they should have no difficulty.

Gorleston were unlucky to be without Jamie Higginbotham and Jason Austin but Ross Kosyrko and Johnny Mobbs came into the squad and both acquitted themselves well with some timely tackles and forward running.

But the Felixstowe class was apparent from the start and the Gorleston defence had already had one or two scares before skipper Jack Entwhistle put them ahead on 15 minutes following a somewhat fortuitous short-corner award.

The game continued with some high quality pace and skill from both sides before three minutes from half-time the home side struck again, this time a swift counter attack down the left wing saw Felixstowe centre for Phil Leney to control the ball well and drill it past Barney King in the Gorleston goal.

After the interval Felixstowe continued to dominate up front with their speed and trickery and man of the match Barney King had to be at his best to produce several fine saves. But after 17 minutes he was powerless to stop Jack Entwhistle scoring, and when the skipper completed his hat-trick five minutes later it seemed another five-goal Suffolk defeat for Gorleston was on the cards. But this time the visitors dug deep and with defenders Andrew Lilly, Nick Mobbs, Martyn Vaudin and Kevin MacDonald working overtime the team fully deserved their consolation goal 10 minutes from time when Mark Vaudin fired home on the right from a narrow angle.

Gorleston remain comfortably placed fifth in the league table on 18 points and next take on Norwich Dragons 2nd X1 in their postponed slip date match, looking to consolidate a very satisfactory first half of the season. The game is at Hobart High School, Loddon at 4.30pm and transport leaves the Albion PH at 3.15pm.