THE crossbar denied hat-trick hero Rory MacTaggart a late winner as unbeaten Hampshire Area Division One leaders Andover were held at home by an impressive Salisbury in a 4-4 stalemate.

It was the last game before the Christmas break and Salisbury came into it off a heavy defeat against Haslemere knowing that any further slip up would wreck their promotion hopes.

The game started in the worst possible fashion when Mark Dunn gave the ball away inside the first minute and the visitors conceded.

But Salisbury hit back through skipper MacTaggart. Despite Andover retaking the lead through their second penalty corner goal, MacTaggart was able to convert from the penalty spot to level the scores at the break – 2-2.

The visitors have often struggled to perform in the second half this season but for the first 20 minutes of the second half they played their best hockey of the season.

MacTaggart was able to complete his hat-trick by firing a penalty corner into the roof of the net before Jack Humphrey stole the ball on the edge of 22 metre line and struck home a clinical reverse stick shot to fire Salisbury into a shock two-goal lead.

But ill-disciplined Salisbury let the precious twogoal lead slip from their grasp as Andover twice punished the visitors from penalty corners despite Tim Green pulling off a string of fine saves.

With the score tied at four-all, and five minutes remaining, Andover were reduced to nine men and the visitors poured on late pressure, winning one last short corner. But as MacTaggart’s flick struck the underside of the crossbar, Chris Warde was unable to turn home the winner.

  • Salisbury fourths dropped to sixth place following a 2-3 home defeat to Bournemouth fifths. James Palmer and Jamie Short got the hosts’ goals.

YOUTH HOCKEY

TWO goals in either half ensured a 4-2 home win for Salisbury under 18s against Andover.

Alex Green and Nick Easterbrook were on target before the break while Jacob Hansford and Henry Emmet slotted home in the second period.

It wasn’t such a successful afternoon for Salisbury boys under 12s seconds who went down 4-1 at Camberley.