Bournemouth beat leaders to go top

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Bournemouth regained top spot in South Hockey League Premier 2 West, knocking overnight leaders Maidenhead off their perch with a 2-1 victory over the Berkshire side at Chapel Gate.
It was Bournemouth’s third win in four matches and a creditable one with last season’s top scorer Conor Moors, the evergreen Duncan Marsh and university student Hugo Creaney-Birch all absent.
An astute tactical switch by coach Adam Tapper gave Dan Salmon (pictured) the opportunity to play higher up the field and he didn’t disappoint, linking with Charlie Cooper to fire Bournemouth into the lead with a low reverse stick shot.
But shortly before half-time Bournemouth conceded a soft penalty corner and Dan Harding equalised for the visitors.
Will Davies, who had scored in Bournemouth’s 3-1 defeat at Henley the previous week, put in a tremendous shift in midfield as the lions bossed affairs without regaining the lead – until Matt Underhill got onto a back post pass to secure a decisive lead.
Maidenhead threw everything at Bournemouth without getting a second goal past goalkeeper Jez Baker.
“The lads showed a lot of character under pressure whilst still creating chances to have seen out the game a little easier,” praised coach Tapper, whose table toppers host Woking at Chapel Gate on Saturday, noon.