A DEPLETED Horwich Hockey Club men’s second team lost 8-1 at home to Brooklands.

With players stepping up for the first-team’s 8-0 defeat at Keswick in Division Two North of the North West Hockey League, the 10-man seconds were seven goals down by half-time.

Horwich showed pride and team spirit in the second half of their Division Four North South clash however, pushing forward more and pressurising the visitors.

The hosts created a few chances before Will Aitken passed the ball to Dave Cheetham, who beat his marker and slipped it to Dave Fox to strike it firmly past the visiting keeper.

Horwich were unlucky not to convert more and Graeme Kilshaw made some brilliant saves, before Brooklands grabbed another late goal.

The ladies first team played two games at the weekend in Division One of the Greater Manchester Hockey League.

First they went down 3-2 at home to University of Manchester on Saturday with Helen Roocroft and Becky Howarth scoring.

They bounced back at Moss Park on Sunday, Roocroft and Zoe Bluer on target in a 2-1 victory.