Belsham does the business as Styx snatch it at the death

12:52pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

HOCKEY

Crostyx 1
Bromley and Beckenham 0
(East 1S)

CROSTYX snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory against fellow promotion favourites Bromley and Beckenham at the Peter May.

In an evenly matched contests real goal scoring chances were few and far between, especially in a tight and physical first half.

Things started to open up a bit more in the second period and Alys Hackett burst through mid-way through only to be denied by an excellent save from the visiting keeper.

The Bromley stopper continued to leave Styx frustrated, as they failed to make the most of a succession of corners won my the hard-running Jo Ward upfront, who was voted player-of-the-match.

And with five minutes remaining the visitors almost snatched victory, but for an excellent clearance off the line by Vicky Berrill from a short corner routine.

The game then appeared to be heading for a stalemate, but right at the death the hosts were awarded their own short corner.

Donna Blockley took the set-piece and drilled the ball into Berrill who set it up brilliantly for Sarah Belsham to drill home into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.

Delighted skipper Keeley Pratt said: “It was a very tough game for us against another good side/

"I'm just glad the girls stuck to their task and in the end we were able to snatch a very rewarding victory.”

The ladies hit the road this weekend to take on local rivals Old Loughtonians' second string.