Hockey: Eastcote suffer frustration

Eastcote's dream of achieving National League status after just one season in the ESL South Premier suffered a setback over the weekend when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Beckenham to rob them of their maximum points record, although they are still three points ahead of their nearest challengers, City of Portsmouth.

It was a frustrating day for Eastcote's manager, Paul Loudon. Two goals up after 15 minutes following strikes from Danny Geach and James Grant, Eastcote went off the boil, allowing Beckenham back into the game to score twice before the interval - a drag flick from Graham Butler at a penalty corner and the equaliser from David Penfold.

Loudon said: "We allowed Beckenham to put a half court press on us and we had no answer." The manager's frustration was fuelled when his side failed from eight second-half penalty corners.

However, Louden is quietly confident ahead of next week's game against Portsmouth. "We have flair, skill and a will to win and I think we can achieve things," he said.

Winchester's 5-3 victory over Chichester allowed Portsmouth, with a victory by the same score over Woking, to move back into second place. Winchester's player-coach, Simon Hazlitt, the former Great Britain player, led the way, scoring twice in their victory, with Mark Vowles, Peter Lelliott and James Wakely completing the scoring.

Another former international, Wales' Micky Colclough, scored a hat-trick for Woking, but it was not enough against Portsmouth.