City of Peterborough 3 Old Loughtonians 2

Injury-hit Old Loughtonians threw away an early lead as they slipped to defeat against high-flying Peterborough on Saturday.

Dominic Camilleri’s side made the short journey north without four of their regular first-team players, but made the perfect start when Canadian Ranjeev Deol scored his first goal for the club on three minutes.

The visitors continued to press forward, but missed a host of chances, including a penalty stroke and were punished when Peterborough levelled through Gareth Andrew on 22 minutes.

The home side were relieved to go into the break level after a shaky display, but they made a strong start to the second period and went ahead on 46 minutes when David Appleton converted his penalty stroke.

But just two minutes later Loughts were level when left-half Tom Stumbke scored from inside the circle.

With the game evenly poised, Loughts pushed for a third goal to take maximum points home to Luxborough Lane.

But they missed a hatful of opportunities and were made to pay when Joe Finding hit the winning goal for Peterborough on 59 minutes, to fire his side up to second in the table.

Loughts’ indifferent start to the season sees them sixth and they will hope to get back to winning ways at Teddington on Saturday.

? Old Loughtonians Ladies faired far better, however, as two-goals from England under-18 international Emily Defroand helped secure a 3-1 win at Horsham.

On 15 minutes Loughts took the lead their early dominance deserved, when Anna Coppel finished off a fine team move involving Maddie Row, Aimee Gosling, Defroand and Andrea Pisesky.

Stout defending from the visitors’ backline Georgie Edwards, Sarah Smith, Emily Wills and Row kept Horsham at bay, but their frustration was ended two minutes before the break when Lauren Keefe equalised.

After the break though Defroand fired Loughts back in front from a short-corner routine and sealed her side’s first victory of the season with her second of the afternoon, again converting from a penalty corner.

Loughts climbed to fourth in the league and travel to the newly promoted Oxford Hawks on Saturday.