A REGRETTABLE first half display from Salisbury Hockey firsts saw them fall to a disappointing 5-2 defeat against Havant thirds.

The Lower Bemerton outfit have struggled away from home this season and their trip to Barncroft Way was no different – they shipped four goals in the first 30 minutes.

It leaves them three points adrift of leaders Andover who have a game in hand.

The visitors went into the match without Max Grossmith, whose nine field goals this season leads the scoring chart, while forward Alfie Jones limped off inside the first five minutes with a hamstring injury. Without the dynamic striking combination, Salisbury lacked penetration and soon Havant were able to score through former national league player Andy Lloyd.

The visitors looked good on the break but missed a couple of chances and were punished by ruthless Havant.

Trailing 4-0 at the break, the visitors reshuffled the line-up, moving Morton into midfield, captain Rory MacTaggart as centre forward and Jason Gupta – who enjoyed a fine debut – into left back.

This sparked a second half transformation with penalty corner goals from Damian Patterson and MacTaggart but the fightback faded.

After the game, defender Alex Rennie, pictured, who suffered an unhappy return to former club Havant, said: “We were punished by a better team. Havant had lots of experienced players who have played at the top level and that was clear to see.

“But we are still third in the league and it is a long season. The team spirit is excellent.”

Blandford were Salisbury’s opponents this weekend but the game is off after the Dorset side were chucked out of the league.

HOCKEY FOURTHS

STRONG table-topping Romsey thirds deservedly came away 4-0 victors at Salisbury fourths.

Romsey started on the front foot right from the start despite Salisbury putting up a stout battle.

But it was the home side’s defence that suffered for the second week in a row, with Romsey’s first goal trickling over the line in scrappy fashion.

Twenty minutes after the opener they got a second and soon followed a third, another mistimed Salisbury pass ending in a gift for the highflying visitors.

Salisbury changed their formation at the break to try and turn around the three-nil deficit, but a deflected fourth goal pulled the plug on their hopes of a quickfire comeback.

A disappointing couple of games has seen Salisbury slip from first to sixth position in the league.