After their loss to Petersfield in their previous match the Mens 2nd team were determined to get back to winning ways and see out their final few games of the season with style. Hosting Alton and with another much changed side with a lot of the younger players unavailable the team took their time to impose themselves on the match, though Alton offered little threat at the other end. Lewis Wells in goal barely had a save to make whilst the returning Pete McKnight, plus Steve McKnight, John Peatfield and Toby Noyes dealt well when Alton did come forward. The midfield of captain Mike Dodds, Steve Holbrook, Will Bevan and the returning Matt Cripps dominated proceedings with the experienced Neil Riley and Peter Wright, returning from an injury himself, not quite making the breakthrough up front that the team deserved. Once the Island finally took the lead there was no looking back, a string of short corners ended with one of them being neatly worked to Mike Dodds who opened the scoring. With John Pearson introduced, the team quickly doubled their lead when Alton failed to clear their lines and Neil Riley managed to cause some confusion and wrong footing the keeper before Mike Dodds was in the right place at the right time to prod the loose ball home at the far post. A rare foray into our D did finally give Alton some hope as they managed to pull one back, but that was swiftly extinguished by a third goal for the Island with Peter Wright getting on the end of a through ball to finish well for a 3-1 lead at half time.

Thoughts of the previous match at Petersfield where the team threw away a 2 goal lead at half time were unfounded as the team played some of their best hockey in the second half, and with the team almost immediately setting their intent by scoring a quick fourth goal, Peter Wright netting his second of the match. The Island completed dominated the second half and on another day may have scored significantly more, but the team did manage to get two more before the final whistle. Peter Wright managed to complete his hat-trick, marking a great comeback from his injury and bagging him the Wightlink Man of the Match to boot, whilst Matt Cripps snagged the final goal in the 6-1 win – though he will feel he should have scored more. Overall a superb performance from the team and a thoroughly deserved victory. Next week the team host Fareham at HMS Temeraire looking to continue their good form and hold onto fourth place in the league.