The Beeston number 1, Simon Hujwan, celebrates the Bees penalty shootout win against Holcombe. Photo c/o Phil Kielthy

England Hockey Men’s Cup round 3

Beeston 3 – 3 Holcombe (Beeston win 4-3 on penalties)
Nottingham Hockey Centre, 13th November – 12:30pm
The day was billed as ‘Super Sunday’. The FHP Bees, the Cup holders, at home to Kent Giants and last years league winners, Holcombe, in the England Hockey Cup Round 3. At the same time on the new University of Nottingham pitch (pitch 4) the students faced Brooklands, also in the England Hockey Cup. This was the first time 2 England Hockey Cup fixtures have taken place at the same time at the same venue.
The Bees squeaked past Premier Division rivals Holcombe in a thriller. In a see-saw battle Holcombe led through James day’s penalty corner, only for the Bees to hit back through Mark Gleghorne and a Ollie Willars strike. Barry Middleton levelled it up and then Day gave Holcs the lead only for Elliot Hibell to square it again ten minutes from time. The game went to penalties and Beeston keeper Simon Hujwan was the hero of the hour as his saves handed Beeston a 4-3 win and a place in the next round.
The Ryley Wealth Management Man of the Match was USA International, Mo Gandhi.
On Pitch 4, Brooklands MU were in ruthless form with a 3-1 away win over University of Nottingham ensuring them safe passage to the quarter finals. Brooklands, finalists in 2014 took the lead via a Matthew Symonds penalty corner and the ever-dangerous Richard Slater notched a second five minutes later. Although the Students pulled one back, Stefan Ray-Hills made the game safe with a third for BMU in the 55th minute.
The Bees have been drawn a home tie against either Reading or Guernsey on the 5th February 2017.
All the results and fixtures for each round of the cup can be found here.

England Hockey Investec North Conference

Beeston 2 – 1 Liverpool Sefton
Nottingham Hockey Centre, 13th November – 2:30pm
There was more excitement on Sunday as the Whirlowdale Bees faced Liverpool Sefton after the men’s Cup clash with Holcombe.
Beeston youngster, Alice Huddlestone, put the Bees in the lead in the 13th minute before Hannah Gavigan squared things up for the travellers from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute.
A landmark was reached by the Bees captain, Sophie Robinson, as she netted her 100th goal for Beeston in the 26th minute to put the Bees 2-1 up.
In the second half, Amy Benson and Hannah Gavigan, both received yellow cards for Liverpool Sefton. Neither team managed to find another goal and the score finished 2-1 to the Bees.