Magpies battle to draw

Harleston Magpies drew 1-1 with hockey hosts Wapping.In pouring rain Wapping forced a short-corner in the first minute, which Livings booted away with disgust as the attempted drag-flick struggled to reach him.

Harleston Magpies drew 1-1 with hockey hosts Wapping.

In pouring rain Wapping forced a short-corner in the first minute, which Livings booted away with disgust as the attempted drag-flick struggled to reach him.

Not even a minute later Wapping opened the scoring after the ball somehow eluded the Magpies back four and fell to a Wapping forward four yards out who made no mistake and finished coolly.

Wapping continued to dominate the first 20 minutes with Magpies unable to string passes together. The pitch was becoming wetter and wetter which didn't help Magpies play their natural game.

Another misplaced pass gave Wapping another opportunity on goal, but Livings read the situation and closed the forward down whilst making a good save to push the ball round the post.

Another Wapping short-corner drag-flick was batted away by Livings, Will Harrison picked the loose ball and Magpies finally clicked resulting in some good interplay which ended in Robbie Kinsella shooting too near to the keeper. As Magpies began to get into the game they started to create chances, but were equally baffled by some interesting umpiring decisions.

With the rain continuing to beat down and some more sweets into the system Magpies finally started to control the game. As they started to exert more pressure the game began to become a bit heated, ending in Dave Francis seeing red and then a yellow card from the umpire.

Even with 10 men Magpies continued to dominate possession but the final passes kept going astray. With Magpies back to strength, Duncan Steven, Robbie Kinsella, and Martin Fields continued to try and break the opposition defence down but there was no end product.

It was Wapping who nearly scored again when the umpire deflected a pass into the path of three unmarked Wapping forwards inside the D but inexplicably the umpire brought play back for a bully.

A misplaced pass in defence allowed Wapping another opportunity but Cobbald got back to clear off the line. Magpies finally got the equaliser with about eight minutes remaining when Francis coolly finished over the keeper.

Wapping came back strongly and forced four consecutive short-corners but Magpies defence proved strong. Man-of-the-match went to Sam Moore who didn't look out of place in an unusual position.

Next up for the second team is Witham, another difficult side but Magpies will be looking to continue their 100 per cent home record.