Leek 4s hold league leaders

After a 3 week gap due to wintery postponements, Leek 4s entertained Old Wulfs 1s with the visitors starting the day in 2nd place. Once again Leek had a much changed team mainly due to injuries to players in higher teams causing selection problems throughout the Club.
Regardless of the level, playing against another club's 1st team will never be easy, and the opening period reflected this. However Leek were able to play some excellent hockey in the first half, which belied their last performance. The experienced midfield of Tom Hatcher, Wes Durston, Rob Lawley and Peter Cordon were able to contain their Old Wulfs counterparts and assisted by their counterparts poor passing, and also prompted several promising attacks. Ptol Edge and Sam Brooks, in the forward line, went close to scoring on several occasions. In fact it was Leek who took the lead on the stroke of half time when Karl Huppert scored his debut goal for Leek from close range.
The Leek defence, ably managed by veteran Andy Machin with his youthful teammates Sam Smith, Jamie Jones and goalkeeper Jack Simpson, withstood a lot of Old Wulfs pressure throughout the match. Eventually, however, this pressure told and in a 10 minute spell midway through the second half Old Wulfs captain, Gareth Minton scored two goals, to gain the advantage.
To their immense credit, the recovery by Leek in the last ten minutes was significant. The midfield group regained control, now assisted by George Mounsey, and with 6 minutes remaining a trademark Leek penalty corner was converted by Machin for the equaliser. Shortly afterwards an excellent attacking move nearly resulted in a winning goal, but unfortunately Huppert dragged his shot wide.
This was a great team performance, against an Old Wulfs team who ended the day as league leaders thanks to this drawn match.