Brooklands MU mens first XI hosted a strong Wimbledon side and ran out 3-1 losers in the contest. Coming off the back of a tight loss to Reading at home last week, the Manchester side will have been relishing the opportunity for another home game and chance to get some points on the board. The game would turn out to be one of two halves, as the cliché goes.

Due to a delayed train for the visiting London side play got underway later than the advertised 2pm start and the game started with a good tempo, Brooklands pressing the Wimbledon back line well and winning the ball off the London side high up the pitch. Wimbledon were a little slower to get going, but showed glimpses of their quality on counter attacks and they won the first Penalty of the game. The first half continued in this fashion with Brooklands stifling their opponents and building some good play towards the circle and not quite finding the finish. Richard Slater tested the Wimbledon goal with a smart backhand from the middle of the D. On 31 minutes Brooklands won their first Penalty Corner after some great attacking play from Aidan Khares, carrying the ball into the Wimbledon circle and drawing a clumsy stick tackle. Captain Peter Flanagan did the rest after a hard low flick took a slight deflection and went through Keeper Bailey’s legs. 1-0 to Brooklands at Half Time.

The second half saw Wimbledon start to get the ball into their midfielders more effectively and play with a bit more purpose, sustaining pressure in the Brooklands half. On 41 mins some intelligent movement from Simon Mantell allowed him to get a cross from the left into a dangerous area for Ben Arnold to deflect home to make the scores level.

Wimbledon continued to pile on the pressure and ask the question of the home teams defending and for 18 minutes Brooklands stood firm and showed some promising signs on the counter attack, Sam Perrin being an effective option on the fast breaks.

However a decisive goal came for Wimbledon on 59 minutes after an initial short corner save from Chris Scott fell to the backhand of Simon Mantell who finished from close range. Wimbledon stayed on the front foot and won another penalty corner and this time Ed Horler stepped up and scored a drag flick high to keeper Scotts left, a decisive goal, 3-1 Wimbledon.

The last ten minutes saw Brooklands swap the goalkeeper for an outfield player to try and stretch Wimbledon but despite some promising passing exchanges, could not craft an opportunity to get back in the game.

Next Saturday sees The George Road boys travel to Kent to take on a Holcombe side currently lying in 5 th position in the England Hockey Mens Premier Division.