HOCKEY: IES finally ended their dismal run of defeats in the Printwize Premier A League with this valuable point. Before the start of the game player/manager Dave Taylor asked his squad to make this game a new start for the Rushmere based side, and to show the desire and commitment that had been in question during the previous few matches.

IES finally ended their dismal run of defeats in the Printwize Premier A League with this valuable point.

Before the start of the game player/manager Dave Taylor asked his squad to make this game a new start for the Rushmere based side, and to show the desire and commitment that had been in question during the previous few matches.

His side responded perfectly with one of their best first half displays of the season.

Right from the first whistle IES pushed their opponents back and pressed them high in their own half as they forced Colchester to concede possession regularly on an unpredictable Garrison pitch that is similar to Clacton's.

Kevyn Brown had one of his best matches in containing the dangerous Stuart MaCauley and Colchester were rattled as their plan to attack through their right was foiled.

And it was Brown who set up the play for their goal when his accurate free hit found Taylor down the left wing.

The experienced striker moved inside his man before threading a perfectly weighted, defence splitting pass that picked out Gardener's run and the ex-Sheffield Banker slid in for a first time effort past the helpless keeper.

IES almost doubled their lead when Sam Gibson did well to make space for a reverse stick shot that whistled just wide.

The home side picked up a little more in the second half as Quinton Crowe tried to assert himself on the game, but Matt Walker did an excellent job of stopping his potentially penetrating runs.

The home side looked dangerous from set pieces and finally got on level terms with a very well worked 1-2 which saw Norton slot home the return pass.

IES rallied and could have pinched the points late on as Fulker went close from another short corner slip routine, but IES had to settle for a point.