Fourmidable Thirds' second wind produces ace win to stop relegation rot for Adders

Atherstone Adders Men's Thirds 4 Market Harborough Seconds 2

Relegation-threatened Adders Men's Thirds produced the comeback of the season against Market Harborough to give themselves a fighting chance of holding onto their current league status.

Two down at the interval, Grant Kobrin's hockey heroes blitzed four in 15 minutes in the second half to leave the visitors shell-shocked – and end a dismal run of four successive defeats where they had shipped 11 goals.

Already without their talisman forward Anthony Hobbs, whose 10 strikes this term has kept the side in touch with the rest of the table, the Adders found themselves looking at another unsatisfactory scoreline early on.

Kobrin's half-time chat, shaking up the pattern of forward play, certainly paid dividends after the break.

Stuart Batchelor began the turn-round with a sweet strike from a penalty corner. Freddie Chiverton scored the first of his two goals with a tap-in at the post and then Harry Batchelor 'Junior' put the Adders ahead for the first time from a penalty flick and Chivers rounded off the revival with his second and the home side's fourth.

Captain Kobrin said the win had given the team a huge lift for next Saturday's all-important derby clash with Nuneaton Seconds, sitting four spots above the Adders – but only four points now separate the Atherstone Thirds and sixth place in the table.

"It's a must-win game if we are to keep the door open on avoiding relegation," added Kobrin.

Melton Firsts 2 Atherstone Adders Men's Firsts 6

The all-conquering Men's Firsts recorded an impressive 6-2 scoreline at Melton – notching up their 114th goal of the league campaign.

And the club's two top scorers – first-team captain Martin Webb and Josh Wragg – were on hand to notch another hat-trick double.

Webb now has an incredible 55 goals to his name with Wagg adding a very creditable 27 more.

The away trip to the borders of Rutland with only 12 players available meant maximum effort from everyone if the side was to maintain its hold on the league title race.

Melton started the game confidently as they passed the ball around with ease without putting too much pressure on the Adders defence. Against the run of play, it was the Adders who went ahead when Josh Wagg tapped home a well drilled Adders short corner.

The home side, though, struck back fairly quickly when Will Parsons in the Adders goal was 'nutmegged' by a powerful Melton shot on target.

With the score on 1-1 the Adders were finding it difficult to dominate and dictate the game in their usual fashion. Lloyd Crowley then produced a game changing moment when he deflected a Melton shot over the bar when it looked easier for the home side's forward to score.

The visitors then added two quick goals to their tally – once again from short corners to give them a comfortable half time lead.

Immediately at the start of the second half the Adders nearly extended their lead when a Josh Wagg shot was deflected narrowly wide of the Melton goal. The Adders then sat back and were punished by a controversial Melton goal which narrowed the scoreline and raised the temperature of the game.

However, s string of Adders short corners, which included two goals into the roof of the net from Martin Webb, both broke down the Melton resistance and put the game beyond the reach of the home side.

Wagg went on to complete his second hat trick in two weeks when he converted a penalty stroke as the Adders ran out comfortable 6-2 winners.