Crostyx were denied a win by a controversial last-gasp equaliser in a thrilling, end-to-end 4-4 draw at St Ives on Saturday.

The opening exchanges were lively, with both sides seeing plenty of the ball, before hosts St Ives took an early lead.

Tim Watson levelled the scores shortly after though, diverting an excellent drag-flick beyond the home side’s goalkeeper from a well-executed short corner routine.

Crostyx continued to pile on the pressure, but a lapse in concentration allowed the hosts to retake the lead with a tap-in at the back post.

Styx roared back once more though, and pulled level for the second time in the game when Chris Campbell deflected home Phil Walker’s well-struck drive from distance. However, St Ives took the lead for the third time to go into the break 3-2 up.

Following an exchange of blows at the beginning of the second period, Crostyx pulled level for the third time when debutant Jahansher Akbar and Jake Burke combined well to set up Rob Harrison.

And with ten minutes remaining, Crostyx went in front for the first time in the contest. Immy Jabal found Burke, who in turned picked out Walker to fire home a first-time reverse shot to put Styx 4-3 up.

However the lead was short-lived, and in the dying minutes, St Ives equalised when the ball bounced off the attacker’s foot and lobbed the Styx keeper from a short corner to hand the home side a last-gasp leveller.

Crostyx host Ipswich-East Suffolk at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in their next fixture. Crostyx Seconds moved up to eighth place in Division 4SE after claiming a 3-1 victory at home to Southend Seconds.

A slow start enabled visitors Southend to strike the first blow; one of the visitors’ wingers drifting in at the far post unmarked to fire beyond goalkeeper Tom Miller first time.

However, Crostyx quickly re-grouped and upped the tempo before drawing level from a short corner. A first-time effort from skipper Paul Murphy flew past the visiting goalkeeper to put Styx back on level terms.

From there, the hosts’ confidence began to grow and Crostyx took the lead from another short corner. Temporary suspensions for Simon Gilbert, Tim Jolly and Richard Amos threatened to destabilise Styx, who eventually made sure of the points when Sukh Jabbal added a third after dribbling into the ‘D’.

Next up for Crostyx is a trip to Brentwood.