HOCKEY: East Bergholt 1 Christchurch II 1. The drama started before a ball was hit, with a flat tyre on the A12 delaying two players and forcing Christchurch to start with just nine.

East Bergholt 1 Christchurch II 1

THE drama started before a ball was hit, with a flat tyre on the A12 delaying two players and forcing Christchurch to start with just nine.

The match remained scoreless while Margaret Gray and Natasha Last found alternative transport and made it onto the pitch. Almost immediately both players were in the thick of it and Last hit a firm shot just wide of the post and Gray was involved in a series of short corners before the interval.

The second half began with both sides looking for an opening.

Harriet Peachey and Gray both came close to forcing the ball over the line for Christchurch, before Gray was able to knock in a close-range effort for the opening goal after 54 minutes.

East Bergholt's response was almost immediate, and after a goalmouth scramble Alexis Kettle equalised. Both teams then sought a winner but defences held firm, with Christchurch's Carrie Kelly making an impressive debut.