SALISBURY Hockey firsts twice came from behind to secure a point in a ten-goal thriller at home to Trojans seconds, writes Mike Spice.

The Lower Bemerton outfit came into game in wonderful form having won all four of their league games after Christmas but got off to the worst possible start. Inside the first two minutes they conceded a penalty stroke.

Damian Patterson was harshly adjudged to have fouled the last man and the visitors made no mistake in converting from the spot.

Their lead was doubled when a scrambled short corner found its way into the goal. Alfie Jones pulled one back before Trojans went 3-1 up. In a devastating fiveminute burst before half-time Salisbury ripped through Trojans with captain Rory MacTaggart and Jones scoring to level the scores.

All the momentum gained evaporated at the start of the second half with Trojans scoring twice to establish what looked to be a winning lead. But Salisbury refused to be beaten and despite finishing the match with ten men, Tom Morton converted from the spot before Jones completed his hat-trick and the comeback.

Third-positioned Salisbury are two points behind Andover and three points behind leaders Haslemere but those teams have two games in hand in Hampshire Area Division One.

The firsts’ high-scoring match was similar to the fourths’ away at City of Portsmouth. But to Salisbury’s dismay, the hosts avenged the 6-0 defeat encountered earlier on in the season with a 5-4 victory.

James Wade (2) and Jim Nicholson were among the visitors’ goal scorers.

TWO teams representing Salisbury under-12 boys played on Sunday.

The firsts went down 2-0 away at Bournemouth while a splendid hat-trick from Alex Christian clinched a win for the seconds at home to Basingstoke.