Pelicans see lead cut after home draw

Pelicans saw their lead at the top of Division One cut down from eight points to six following a 1-1 draw with fifth-placed Peterborough on Saturday.The game was a fantastic spectacle played by two excellent teams at a frantic pace for the entire 70 minutes.The league leaders took the lead through captain Sam Phillips, whose drag flick from a short corner was deflected into the roof of the net by a defender.Peterborough levelled it up through a short corner of their own before half-time.The second half saw both sides have spells of pressure but unable to find their way through.Peterborough also had their moments and kept Chris Page, Iain Page and Sam Major busy at the back.Between the posts, Dan Upton again had a good game with some important saves.Major made a crucial block early in the second half too.In truth, the longer the second half went on the more chances the Pelicans created, as Phillips had a short corner brilliantly cleared off the line.Chances also fell the way of Harry Sampson, George Van Aalst and Jack Major but they all found the visiting goalkeeper in unbeatable form.Kirwin Christoffels yet again demonstrated his class, covering every inch of the hockey pitch and rightfully was awarded man of the match by his fellow players.Despite dropping points, Pelicans go into a one-week break still with a six-point buffer at the top, made even better with a far superior goal difference.They’re next in action on February 24 when they travel to Ipswich.4Way MoM: Kirwin Christoffels.

Hockey Greg Plummer