Gorleston Hockey Club finally got their season under way on Saturday, playing host to Harleston Magpies 5th eleven for their first game. with club stalwart Peter Jones stepping into the breach when only one umpire made the game and volunteering to take the whistle.

The home side started brightly, with the experience gained in a higher division last season showing clearly. Early pressure paid off, with Mark Vaudin excelling down the right wing and making several surging runs into the Magpies circle. One of these resulted in a shot on goal that was saved by the visitors Keeper, but Neil Hudson was on hand to poach the ball from the Keepers pads and slot the ball home to give Gorleston the lead.

Magpies responded immediately and won a short corner straight from the restart, but the Gorleston defence held firm.

Gorleston extended their lead on 25 minutes and this was almost a carbon copy of the first, Hudson again on the spot to pick up a loose ball from the Keeper?s save and slip the ball between the Keeper?s pads to make the score 2-0 to the home side.

The final five minutes of the half saw Magpies seize greater control of the game and make a series of attacks on the home goal, but were unable to create a clear shot on goal.

The second half was a much more even affair, as a lack of match fitness told on the home side. Magpies were able to attack on occasions and did create a number of chances, but virtually none hitting the target. For the few chances that did head goal-ward, the home defence dealt with these comfortably.

No further goals in the second half left Gorleston able to run out winners and secure their first three points for the season. Next Saturday, Gorleston travel to face North Walsham in a late start at Cromer High School.

Squad: B King (C), K McDonald, R Harlow, J Austin, J Higginbotham, A Lilly, M Vaudin, R Pallant, O Barfield, R Crawford, N Hudson, P Jones (Umpire)