Loughts sweep aside Sevenoaks for third straight win

OLD LOUGHTONIANS MEN notched their third win in a row with a 3-2 victory at bottom-side Sevenoaks on Sunday.

The home side took a shock lead after just four minutes, but John Sapsed hit back for Loughts and Leroy Phillips struck to give his side the lead at half time.

The visitors continued to apply the pressure after the restart and got their reward when Tom Stumbke fired in his side’s third.

Sevenoaks set up a nervous finale with a goal five minutes from time, but Loughts held firm to take the points.

The latest win leaves the men’s Conference East side sixth in the table and just three points behind leaders Southgate as they bid for promotion to the Premier Division.

Dominic Camilleri’s side face a busy weekend as they welcome Wimbledon to Luxborough Lane on Saturday, with the two sides currently level on points as they approach the half-way stage in the season.

Then on Sunday, Loughts turn their attention to the England Hockey Men’s Cup as they make the trip to Milton Keynes in the last 16.

And having beaten Cambridge City 10-0 in the previous round, confidence will be high for the trip up the M1.

It was not such a good weekend for Old Loughtonians Ladies though, as they slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Sevenoaks on Saturday to leave them just two points clear of the relegation play-off place.

Loughts made a positive start to the match with Katie Richards denied twice by the visiting keeper, but they were made to pay on 18 minutes when Sophie Crosley set up Cathy Gilliat-Smith to fire home.

But Loughts hit back moments later through Emily Defroand following good work by Adele Sammons to level the half-time score.

The second half was far more open, with chances at both ends, but it was Sevenoaks who snatched the win as Gilliat-Smith scored her second on the counter-attack to earn the visitors all three points.

Alistair Bray’s side have now gone three games without a win, leaving them sixth in the Women’s Conference East on eight points, just two points clear of ninth placed St Albans, which makes Saturday’s trip to fellow strugglers Cambridge City key to their survival chances.