SALISBURY Hockey Men's firsts chucked away a two-goal lead as they were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Trojans seconds.

The Lower Bemerton outfit had the better of the opening exchanges.

And when a brilliant touch from Jagjit Marwaha sent Tom Morton into the Trojans D, the Salisbury midfielder fired home for the opener.

Morton then doubled his side's lead after a scramble in the Trojans' circle, making no mistake from close-range.

Salisbury could have killed the game off in the first half. Following great work down the right by Marwaha, his cross was kicked into the goal by Martin Clarke, and disallowed.

The second half became a scrappy affair, with the home side failing to gain any real control.

Some soft defending led to Trojans reducing the arrears. Things got worse for Salisbury when a contentious decision from the umpire saw captain Andy Renshaw sin binned. Trojans made their man advantage count equalising midway through the second half.

Salisbury restored their lead from a well-worked penalty corner that was converted by Chris Ward.

It looked to be the winner until Tom Brady's pass was intercepted by the on-rushing Trojans man who went through on goal before tapping home the leveller for a share of the spoils.

Captain Renshaw said: "It was a game we should really be winning, but we were nowhere near the level we can be."

The result leaves Salisbury in third place, five points behind second-placed Gillingham and leaders Weymouth in Hampshire Area Division 1.

Elsewhere, Salisbury Women's Hockey had no league game at the weekend.

They return to the field on Saturday as they host second-from-bottom Cheltenham Seconds in West Club Women's Premier Division 2A.