EVESHAM and Badsey knocked Winchcombe off the top with a 6-5 win in a Verde Recreo Men's Hockey League The Marches Division One thriller.

The game was hosted by E&B due to a waterlogged Winchcombe pitch and Marcus Humpston was the goal hero with four.

Winchcombe opened the scoring early on but Humpston equalised after a goalmouth scramble.

Sam Tompson put E&B ahead with a drag-flick from a short corner only for Winchcombe to quickly level.

Sustained pressure brought two more goals from Humpston for a 4-2 half-time lead.

Winchcombe scored two within a few minutes early in the second half and then went ahead after E&B failed to clear following a series of saves by keeper James Key.

But E&B, who host Wotton-under-Edge B on Saturday, levelled in an end-to-end finale and a short corner brought the winner from Dan Osborne with the last touch of the match.

A Connor Hill hat-trick contributed to a 7-0 home win for the A team against Cirencester D.

Hill netted Evesham’s opener after a well-worked move followed by two goals from Jon Francis including a solo run from halfway and a powerful shot into the top corner. 

Jacob Clements-Hunt tucked away a fourth shortly before half-time.

After the break Hill slipped the ball through the keeper's legs following a short corner.  Ned Meredith scored his first senior goal with a shot from the edge of the D and Hill completed his hat-trick just before the final whistle.

The team visit Cheltenham C on Saturday.

Pershore dominated in a 4-2 victory over visiting Khalsa Leamington thirds on a wet pitch in West Midlands One.

They started well when Russ McGettigan latched onto a 40-yard pass from Stu Bearcroft and guided the ball into the D before clipping the ball on the reverse stick through the legs of the keeper.

Khalsa swiftly levelled through a penalty corner following a mazy run with keeper Rob Smith getting a glove on the ball.

But Pershore bossed the rest of the half and captain Karl Lawson combined well with Rich Stocks before finding forward Tony Handley who rounded the last defender and fired home from the top of the D. 

The defence was solid with Steve Miles assured in possession and the creative players eventually made it 3-1 at the interval through Jon Sprague's conversion of a penalty corner.

Khalsa hit back with a goal in the second period but the margin of two was restored when McGettigan took a close-range chance after Graham Handley ran down the right.

Pershore visit Old Halesonians seconds on Saturday.

The seconds drew 2-2 at Finchfield fifths in South West Four.

Skipper Gareth Rushton scored two goals with Charlie Norton impressing in only his fourth game but Wolverhampton bagged late goals to level.

Pershore entertain University of Birmingham sixths on Saturday.