HAVANT II 4, HASLEMERE 4

HASLEMERE shared the points with a strong Havant 2nd XI in an eight-goal thriller.

After a frustrating defeat to Reigate Priory, Haslemere needed to get back to the high-quality hockey that had earlier got them into the top five in Hants/Surrey Regional 1.

But it was Havant who pressed high early on and put the visiting defence under intense pressure.

Before the Blues could get a grip on the game, Havant took the lead from a short corner, thanks to a smart finish by Craig Duffy.

This fired up Haslemere and they quickly responded with a short-corner goal of their own from South African striker Josh Cowell.

As the game went on, it was clear that two good teams were evenly matched. Havant restored their lead with a classy goal, Peter Lane picking up a neat inside pass and deftly lifting the ball over the onrushing Nick Bull.

The next goal was going to be crucial and it was Haslemere who got it before half-time. With Cowell off the pitch, it fell to back-up flicker Chris Fox to coolly convert a penalty.

But Havant began strongly again in the second half and seemed to have put the game beyond the visitors after scoring twice in rapid succession through slick attacking play and clever short corners, with ‘JP’ Pickett and Tom Taplin claiming the goals.

But Haslemere were far from finished and showed their character by scoring two late goals to save the game.

Cowell netted his second with a superb drag-flick and Andy Powell levelled the scores at 4-4 from another penalty stroke, albeit at the second attempt.

A valuable, hard-fought point for Haslemere who host bottom side Chichester II at Woolmer Hill this Saturday.