Hockey: Cannock are second best in the Steel City

They were hoping to get back to winning ways after their four-match unbeaten run was brought to a halt the weekend prior.

Cannock were caught cold at the back too often though, as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Sheffield Hallam.

William Hearne opened the scoring for the hosts with a clever reverse strike, 18 minutes in. Sheffield doubled their lead four minutes later as Josh Darlington swept home from close range.

Cannock managed to come up with a swift reply, Kyle Gladwin’s sliding finish giving them hope of a comeback, but could not make a breakthrough in the second half and Billy Root put the result beyond doubt for the hosts.

In the Midlands Premier, Stourport are yet to win this season.

Chris Kendall and Tom Schubert were on the mark as they lost 4-2 at Belper.

Lichfield were held to a goalless draw with Harborne.

It is back-to-back losses for Stone in Midlands One. They lost 4-2 at home to table-toppers Boots and dropped down to sixth.

In Midlands Two, Streetly had a day to forget. They had a share of the lead in the division going into their clash with Stratford, which they lost 5-1.

Bloxwich will also look to put their 3-1 defeat to Chesterfield behind them quickly.

Aldridge & Walsall were beaten 2-1 by league leaders Sikh Union (Coventry) in the West Midlands Premier.

Stafford picked up their first win of the season, 2-1 victors over West Bromwich.

In West Midlands One, Yuvender Prashar fired home four times as Wolverhampton thumped Alpha 7-1. Ben Benton, Chris Finch and Ben Hammond got a goal each too.

Wednesbury are still searching for their first win of the campaign. They drew 1-1 at Newtown, Richard Barker their scorer.

In the Women’s Conference West, Jodie Beddow and Esme Gibson struck as Cannock won 2-0 at Olton & West Warwickshire.

Cannock were pleased to go into half-time at 0-0, knowing they had been let off on a couple of occasions.

The hosts had their fair share of opportunities in the second half and actually put the ball in the back of the net on three occasions – only to see all three disallowed.

Beddow then deflected a short corner into the back of the net before Gibson struck a backhand shot past the keeper, making it back-to-back league victories.

Also in the division, Stourport were comfortably beaten 4-0 by Trojans.