HOCKEY: Brooklands 3 Bury 4 (From Bury Times)

HOCKEY: Brooklands 3 Bury 4

3:00pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in Sport By Bury Times Sports Reporter

BURY returned to action after the Christmas break and cemented their position at the top of the North West Hockey League’s Division Five North, with a victory.

Brooklands took the lead 12 minutes in, but Bury hit back after 15 minutes, with James Oakes tapping in Ben Cooper’s cross at the far post after a flowing move down the left wing.

The open nature of the game was highlighted as Brooklands went back into the lead almost instantly, before Matt Cooke, pictured, produced a powerful shot on the turn to bring Bury level, with just 20 minutes played.

The second half saw Bury gain a measure of control with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the half. Oakes was again on hand to convert another flowing move from close range, his 20th of the season, before Luke Fidler fired home the goal of the game with an unstoppable reverse stick finish. Brooklands grabbed a third goal five minutes from time, but never really threatened an equaliser.

With second placed Keswick losing, Bury are now once again clear at the top of the table.

Bury’s second-team came from behind on Saturday to make it 13 wins out of 13 as they consolidated top spot in Division Eight North with a 5-1 success at home to Golborne. A Tony Sanderson hat-trick and a brace from captain Andy Robertson ensured another comfortable win for the league-leaders.

l For league tables see Page 63