HOCKEY: Early lift as Devizes men make a winning start (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

HOCKEY: Early lift as Devizes men make a winning start

2:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Sport

DEVIZES made a winning start to their Central Two campaign with a 4-1 victory over West Wilts A.

The Warminster visitors struck the first blow of the day when they took the lead after a quarter of an hour when Mike Roast combined with Dave Yalland to slot home.

Devizes were level as player-coach Ollie Smith finished a fine solo effort.

Mike Greenman gave them the lead, slotting home a first-time strike at the top of the D.

Despite West Wilts pressure at the start of the second half, Josh Bond tapped home the third at the back post.

The hosts suffered a blow when goalkeeper Charlie Palmer – in his first match for the club – was stretchered off to hospital with a chipped hip bone.

But they withstood some more pressure for the visitors and Jack Gomples fired home the fourth.

• Wootton Bassett’s chances of an opening-day Central Two victory slipped away as they lost 6-4 at Robinsons B.

Trailing 2-0, Bassett halved the deficit just after the half hour as Patrick Law netted.

The second half started well as Jake Nunns equalised and Mark Turner’s shot was deflected home. Robinsons levelled but it was 4-3 to Bassett as Nunns fired his second.

Three goals in nine minutes wrapped up the result for Robinsons.