WHAT a contrasting Christmas Salisbury’s hockey players are going to have ...

The ladies are riding high and unbeaten at the top of the West of England Women’s League Premier Division 2A with every prospect of a promotion celebration at Easter.

The men, in contrast, are in the South League Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 relegation zone and battling for survival after a 3-2 defeat against the Bank of England at Bemerton.

Two Andrew Bailey goals adrift at the break, Salisbury dominated the second period, but failed to turn their superiority into goals until Rory McTaggart’s probing run set up Tom Morton, pictured, to flick the ball over the onrushing Bank goalkeeper.

Soon after Salisbury were level – Chris Warde’s aerial pass picking out Morton for his second goal.

It looked as though Salisbury were headed for a third straight win but, five minutes from time, Morton’s men were hit by a Bank raid as Chris Salmon cashed in for the visitors’ late winner.

“It was a hugely disappointing loss,” Morton sighed.

“We were certainly the stronger team but we only have ourselves to blame for conceding such a soft goal with only minutes to go.”