East London 2 Saffron Walden 2 EAST LONDON recorded their only draw of their league campaign to secure seventh spot in Division 3SE of the East of England hockey league. East London took on Saffron Walden, a team only one point above them in the league. T

East London 2 Saffron Walden 2

EAST LONDON recorded their only draw of their league campaign to secure seventh spot in Division 3SE of the East of England hockey league.

East London took on Saffron Walden, a team only one point above them in the league. The game started in a scrappy manner with loose passes from both teams resulting in early attacks at both ends.

However, the visitors took the lead after a shot deflected off Dan Hyden's stick beyond his helpless goalkeeper.

Hyden, keen to make up for his error, immediately pushed forward and managed to repair the damage by deflecting Kevin Taylor's initial strike into the Saffron Walden goal, but a second strike from Saffron Walden saw East London trailing at the break.

The second half was extremely open, but East London began to look like the stronger team.

Midway through the half, Hyden's defence-splitting pass allowed Roeland Doust to draw the sides level and the Londoners looked like they could grab all three points when Hyden and then Taylor put the ball in the Saffron Walden net, only for both goals to be ruled out by the umpires.

MEANWHILE, the ladies team were unable to stop visitors Wapping taking all three points at Mile End Stadium.

East London lost 6-1 to finish ninth in Division One of the Essex Women's Hockey League.

The Men's second XI played the third game of the day at East London's home ground and faced a team from Old Southendians.

Both teams had already been confirmed as relegated from the division, so the match was for pride as they knew they'd be facing each other again next season.

The old boys took a commanding 4-1 lead in the first half, but East London showed determination to bring it back to 4-4 in the opening 10 minutes of the second period. However, the comeback was shortlived as the old boys regained their grip on the match, eventually winning 10-4.