Hockey: Cannock double after Crutchley strikes twice

Cannock 4 Beeston 1

CANNOCK completed a rare Cup and League double at Milton Keynes yesterday when they beat Beeston in what became a one-sided contest once Bobby Crutchley had given Cannock a 19th-minute lead at their fifth penalty corner. Although defeated, Beeston will represent England in the European Cup winners Cup competition next season.

Earlier Beeston, with Australian Craig Keegan prompting his forwards with precision passes and Danny Williams bringing off a number of important saves, kept in touch with their illustrious opponents.

Ian Hughes Rowlands finished off a four-man move which had mesmerised the Beeston defence to score Cannock's second in the 25th minute. Four minutes into the second half Ben Sharpe was given time to pivot and fire in a spectacular reverse sweep shot with Crutchley getting a deflection to beat Williams for his second.

As the game deteriorated, punctured with stoppages and temporary suspensions, Paul Edwards scored Cannock's fourth from a penalty corner before Iain Randall, at a worked penalty corner, scored Beeston's consolation.

Cannock: J Lewis; P Edwards; A Humphrey, J Pidcock, C Parnham; M Johnson, Kalbir Takher (capt), B Sharpe; C Mayer, B Crutchley, I Hughes-Rowlands. Substitutes used: S Organ, G Terrett, W Glover, J Mills and C Ashcroft.

Beeston: D Williams; S Wood (capt), A Garratt, R Stamp, A Seagar; K Reesby, C Keegan, A West; P Sheardown, I Randall, M Huckle. Substitutes used: J Longden, M Taylor, J McBlane and P Sully.

Umpires: N Lockhart (ECHUA) and S Brooks (NCHUA).