East Men’s League: Fightback is not enough for Wisbech in cup thriller

Battling Wisbech narrowly failed to reach the final of the EH Trophy after a thrilling 5-4 defeat at Gateshead.

The hosts made an impressive start and had roared into a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Wisbech regrouped and Sam Blunt pulled one back with a reverse stick shot after his initial effort from a short corner was saved.

Blunt then won a penalty stroke and Bradley Apted converted to make it 3-2.

The fightback was halted in a five-minute spell before half-time. Drew Harvey was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after retaliating to a foul and then hitting the ball away in frustration at his yellow card.

Matthew Levanda also received a yellow card just before the break and Gateshead scored from a short corner to leave the half-time score at 4-2.

Wisbech hung on until they were restored to full strength, but another short corner resulted in Gateshead's fifth.

Gavin Johnstone reduced the arrears with 10 minutes remaining and Blunt made it 5-4, but Wisbech could not conjure an equaliser.

Norwich City kept their survival hopes alive in the Premier A Division despite letting a three-goal lead slip away in a 4-4 draw at Chelmsford.

Chris Wardale gave City the lead before slamming home a reverse stick shot to double the advantage.

Chelmsford halved the deficit but City restored the two-goal cushion when Stu Wardale dribbled in from the right and scored with a reverse stick shot.

Jez Elliott fired home a short corner in the second half to make it 4-1, but Chelmsford responded to salvage a point.

City now need to win their final game against St Albans to stay up.

A youthful Pelicans side were beaten 7-2 at Ford in Division 1N.

Ford took the lead at the end of the first half, before a flurry of goals in the second period. Matthew Nolan scored both goals for Pelicans, who have been relegated.

Rupert Snelling fired a hat-trick as Norwich Dragons extinguished any lingering fears of relegation with a 7-2 mauling of Harleston Magpies III.

Gareth Green put Dragons ahead before Magpies equalised from a penalty corner. Jason Wolfe calmly converted a penalty stroke to restore Dragons' advantage but again Magpies drew level to make it 2-2 at half-time. Dragons took control after the break and goals from Alex Browne (2) and Snelling (3) secured a comfortable victory.

Norwich City IV secured fourth place in Division 4NE following their promotion last season with a 4-4 draw at Sudbury III.

Tim Beardmore and Ali Clabburn both scored twice as the team sealed their highest ever league position.

In Division 3NW, Wisbech lost 6-4 at home to Spalding. All four of the hosts' goals came from Gary Freear.