Cambridge City Hockey Club get the new season under way

Cambridge City Men’s I started their Men’s Hockey League Division One North campaign on Sunday with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Olton & West Warwickshire.

While hosting City had good spells in possession it was the visitors who proved to be the more clinical of the two sides, as was the case when they broke the deadlock from a cheaply-conceded penalty corner.

And Olton went on to double their advantage three minutes before the interval after the City defence had been pulled out of shape.

The home team responded midway through the third quarter when captain Nat Farrant won a penalty stroke and summer signing Conor Annand stepped up to fire into the top left hand corner, but despite halving the deficit an equaliser was not forthcoming.

City will aim to get off the mark on Sunday (October 2) when they head to Barford Tigers.

Meanwhile, in the East Men’s League Division One, Cambridge City III got started with a 6-1 defeat at Dereham I.

Cambridge found themselves four goals down at the break, with their consolation goal coming after the restart courtesy of a Rupert Evans deflection.

In the East Men’s League Division Three North West, Cambridge City V ran out 2-1 winners against Bourne Deeping III.

After an earlier onslaught City were eventually rewarded when Niall Graham won a penalty corner which Alex Herriot converted.

Jonny Cummings slammed in a second goal just before half-time and that proved crucial as the home side pulled a goal back in the second half from a penalty corner but City held out for the victory.

In the East Men’s League Division Four NW there were contrasting fortunes for Cambridge City Men’s VI and VII.

The sixth team ran out 5-0 winners over St Ives IV as Cammy Small shone with four goals alongside one from Ben Journeaux.

However, the seventh side were unable to follow that triumph up in their 3-2 loss against City of Peterborough IV.

Harry Speed and Henry Denny-Gouldson were both on target for Cambridge but it was not enough to deliver victory.

Cambridge City Women’s I suffered a 4-1 defeat from their Vitality England Hockey Division One South season-opening trip to Canterbury I.

Olympic gold and bronze medalist Susie Townsend was included in a strong home side’s line-up that gained control of the game early on.

As for Cambridge, their goal was scored by Amie Hunt on her competitive debut.

On Saturday (October 1) City will look to record their first win of 2022/23 when they entertain Harleston Magpies I.

Meanwhile, in the East Women’s Premier League, Cambridge City Women’s II played out a 2-2 draw with their Harleston Magpies counterparts.

May Busher and Catriona MacIver were both among the goals for City.

In the East Women’s League Division One North, Cambridge City Women’s III got started with a thumping 5-1 victory on the road at the University of East Anglia I.

Emily Barker put City in command with a quickfire brace before captain Katie Maude-Barker made it 3-0.

Further goals from Millie Ely and Anita Nicholls added further gloss to the scoreline.

In the East Women’s League Division Two North West a goal from Xanthe Stebbing earned Cambridge City Women’s IV a 1-1 draw against St Ives I, while in Division Three North West Cambridge City Women’s V won 3-2 against St Ives II.

The trio of Fran Burn, Becky Hayward and Jemima Wrigley were all on target for the triumphant City fifth team.

In the East Women’s League Division Four North West, a penalty corner from Anna Dicker secured Cambridge City Women’s VI a 1-1 draw from their home encounter with neighbouring Ely City II.