Cambridge City men's first team pick up first win of new Division 1 North season against Barford Tigers

Cambridge City bounced back from their season-opening defeat last weekend by recording a 2-1 victory at Barford Tigers on Sunday.

Visiting City fell behind early on in Warwickshire but they knuckled down and restored parity when goalkeeper Ben Knights cleared a penalty corner to Josh Lee, who in turn played a quick through-ball for Duncan Rudd to fire in.

City continued to apply the pressure and they got their rewards late on in the contest via Conor Annand’s second penalty stroke in as many outings.

The first team will be on the road again in the Men’s Hockey League Division 1 North on Sunday (October 9) when they head to Belper.

In the East Men’s League Premier Division, Cambridge City II played out a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Spalding I.

After falling behind Dilip Hendrickx equalised for City just after after half-time.

It was also honours even for Cambridge City III in the East Men’s League Division 1 as they drew 2-2 at Pelicans I.

Kabir Sahota and Marc Rocca twice put City in front but they were pegged back on both occasions in what was an ill-tempered affair.

In East Men’s League Division 3NW, Cambridge City V chalked up a 4-1 win at the expense of Cambridge South V.

Stuart Rye, Niall Graham, Streetja Jonnada and Maxim Vreeswijk were all on target for a City side that has now emerged victorious from three matches in a row.

There was also a convincing win for Cambridge City VI in the East Men’s League Division 4.

Forward Ben Journeaux helped himself to two goals alongside efforts from Nigel Anns, Bill Davison and Stuart Perry to seal a 5-1 victory at City of Peterborough VI.

However, in the same division Cambridge City Veterans lost 4-1 at home to newly-promoted Ely City.

Henry Denny-Gouldson scored a consolation for City with a penalty stroke.

Meanwhile, it is back-to-back losses at the start of the new Vitality England Women’s Hockey Division 1 South season for Cambridge City after they went down 4-1 at home to Harleston Magpies I.

City found themselves depleted for much of the game due to card-resultant offences, meaning Miriam Marti-Palet’s goal was little more than a consolation.

They will look to get off the mark in 2022/23 on Saturday (October 8) at home against Slough I.

In the East Women’s Premier Division, a goal from Rachael Millington-Clarke could not prevent Cambridge City II from slipping to a 3-1 defeat away at Norwich City I.

There was better news for Cambridge City III in the East Women’s League Division 1 as they recorded a 3-2 home win over Cambridge University II.

An opening goal by Millie Ely handed City an advantage, only for the students to draw level. An impressive solo effort from Hannah Roberts, in which she beat six opposition defenders before rounding goalkeeper restored the lead.

The students again pulled level before Millie Ely sealed the victory with a decisive late goal.

In the East Women’s League Division 2NW, Cambridge City IV became the first side to beat Newmarket I in almost three seasons.

They ran out 2-1 winners with goals from Madi Yeoman and Xanthe Stebbing, while Newmarket’s goal was scored by former City player Jess Reading from a penalty corner.

Goals from Emily Joubert, Fran Burn and Jemima Wrigley earned Cambridge City V a 3-3 draw from their trip to face Wisbech Town II in East Women’s League Division 3NW, while Hattie Emerson scored in Cambridge City VI’s 3-1 loss to Newmarket II in East Women’s League 4NW.