Hockey: Cookstown see of Civil Service at Stormont

Amid the dropping temperature the Reds started well, hoping to grab three points more convincingly than last weekend’s fixture.

The deadlock was broken early in the first half when Simon Todd finished well after stealing the ball from the Service centre back before hammering low into the home goal.

Cookstown grabbed another shortly afterwards, Smyth combining with Crooks through a majestic reverse stick pass from outside the 25’, Crooks finishing well with a one-touch deflection.

The Reds increased the scoreline again before half-time when Ames found the Stewartstown striker, Raymond Miller, camping out in his ‘homeland’ three yards from goal to convert Cookstown’s third just before the break.

Cookstown sought more goals after the break and despite holding possession for the majority of the half, they were unable to convert.

With the temperature continuing to drop and the pitch becoming unplayable, step forward the Coagh cavalier Ryan Millar who staked his claim for miss of the season after firing wide off another Stuart Smyth assist.

Civil Service were able to claw one back shortly before the final whistle, signalling a 3-1 victory to Cookstown in the last of the fixtures between the two teams this season.