Aldershot & Farnham (A&F) Hockey Club’s men’s first team were involved in a high-scoring draw for the third week running as a see-sawing South Central Division One South game with Southampton University ended 4-4 at Wide Lane.

A&F started well and a strong drive into the centre left of the circle by Max Long saw him strike a firm reverse stick cross which Ian Metcalfe met with a shin-high volleyed deflection to give A&F an early lead.

But as the students started to settle into the game, they found an equaliser. It was a rather soft goal for A&F to concede as a ball in the right-hand side of the circle deflected up and over goalkeeper Will Hall, leaving Oliver Blaney a simple tap in.

To add more dynamism at the back, Rory Whelan was moved to the centre of A&F’s defence, and he put in a strong performance as A&F had to soak up a period of sustained pressure. However, on a quick counter down the right by Stu Morhall, he crossed into the D for Jonny Groves to slap past the onrushing goalkeeper.

A&F made it a double-strike moments later as Morhall pickpocketed a midfielder, charged past a defender and struck across a venomous strike into the far corner from an ever-reducing angle.

A&F led 3-1 at half-time, but they were masters of their own downfall after the break as some sloppy play created an opening for the hosts to pull their first goal back moments into the second half. They further took advantage of A&F’s defensive frailties to completely turn the game on its head and lead 4-3.

Long broke into the D once more for A&F and in a desperate bid to stop his reverse strike was fouled. Metcalfe tucked away the resultant penalty stroke to level the game up.

Morhall came close to winning it for A&F but was denied by a good late save.

A much-improved performance by A&F’s men’s second team saw them push second placed Havant’s fourth team all the way before losing 5-4 in an action-packed fixture. From 2-0 down, A&F responded with a penalty flick by Mark Smith and two excellent goals by Charlie Dews as the game was locked at 3-3 at half-time. Havant showed their class to pull two goals ahead before Smith struck from a short corner to set up a dramatic finish, but the equaliser remained elusive.

A&F’s men’s third team lost out narrowly 2-1 against Fareham’s sixth team, but the men’s fourth team were heavily beaten at Havant’s sixth team.

A&F’s ladies’ second team fought back from 2-0 down to eventually draw 3-3 with Havant’s third team. Amanda Watson in a screen position did well for A&F breaking down the Havant play while Jodie Hodson and Leander Marshall were a threat driving forwards. A&F’s goals were scored by Bella Pettengell, Emma Whincop and Poppy Littleton.

A&F’s ladies’ third team defeated Basingstoke’s fifth team 3-2. Ellie Darlow scored A&F’s first two goals, with the winner coming from a short corner by captain Emma Skelding.

Hannah Buckle got a late winner as A&F’s ladies’ fourth team beat Portsmouth’s third team 2-1 to overtake their hosts and top the table in South Central Women’s Division Two Solent.