Windermere reclaim top spot despite first loss of season to Lancaster University in men's hockey (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Windermere reclaim top spot despite first loss of season to Lancaster University in men's hockey

3:22pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

Lancaster University 2

Windermere 1

Men’s North West League Division Three North

WINDERMERE lost their first match of the season and overnight leadership of Division Three on Saturday, but bounced back on Sunday with a solid away win to regain top spot in a dramatic weekend.

Lancaster University beat Mere 2-1 in a tense encouter that could have gone either way on Saturday. They took the lead through a deflection midway through the first half and although Mere equalised with a resounding Steve Heyns penalty corner strike, they were never able to dominate.

Chances were created and missed in both Ds before the home side got their vital second goal and held on to lead Division Three North for 24 hours.

Playing their game in hand, Mere bounced back with a vengeance on Sunday, beating Mossley Hill 4-0 on Merseyside to regain top spot.

Will Dolman and Scott Santemara scored with drag flicks at penalty corners in the first half, then Harry Jackson scored from a raid down the right and Will Dolman was on target with another penalty corner drag flick to seal all three points.

* Windermere 2s won 4-1 in their Sunday development league match at Kirkby Stephen. Scorers were Andy Wood, Jonny Morant and Luke Blezard, plus an own goal.

Didsbury Northern Fourths 3

Kendal 1

Division Four North

Kendal were full of confidence following last weekend's success and travelled to Manchester for this mid table clash.

Didsbury were quick out of the blocks and earned a penalty flick after 20 minutes which was saved by Chacko.

But the home team opened the scoring shortly after and they added a second before half time following a period of sustained pressure.

The Greens started well in the second half and Ewan Galloway scored with a chip over the keeper after bursting through from a Donaldson pass.

Despite Galloway's effort Kendal's defeat was confirmed by a third Didsbury goal midway through the second half.

In the last 10 minutes Barclay had a shot that went just wide, Galloway forced a diving save from the keeper and Davis was close to a short corner deflection.

But the visitors just could not get back into the game and they were forced to accept defeat.