HAT-TRICKS from both Andy Stockley and Chris Price helped Wotton keep their unbeaten home record intact with a comprehensive win over Hereford.

Wotton started well and it wasn’t long before they showed their intention with Simon Fell scoring from a penalty corner.

Solid defending from James Cruickshank’s men ensured any opposition attacks were soon broken down, so it was a surprise when Hereford scored against the run of play to level the scores.

Wotton didn’t let this affect them and just before half time Darren Pearce played an inch perfect through ball for Andy Stockley to run onto and slot past the oncoming keeper.

The second half was much the same with Wotton dominating, and it wasn’t long before Price added to the scoreline with another well worked penalty corner.

Stockley had a one on one with the keeper but unselfishly picked out Price for his second.

It must have felt like déjà vu for Hereford as just two minutes later Stockley was again through on goal and slipped to Price for him to complete his hat-trick.

Phil Dexter had to make sure he was on his toes in the Wotton goal with a double save when Hereford had a rare attack.

However, with ten minutes to go Wotton could sense more goals and holding midfielder James Bull found Price, who then returned the favour to Stockley by threading the ball through two defenders for him to slot home.

In the dying minutes man of the match Stockley picked up the ball and shot past the keeper from an acute angle to complete his hat-trick and Wotton’s seventh.

Wotton moved up to second place in the table.

Hereford and Glos Division Two Hereford 3rds 4 Wotton under Edge 2nds 0 Wotton travelled to Hereford last Saturday and what should have been a closely fought contest turned into a lop-sided defeat.

The opening exchanges set the tone for the first half, which was evenly contested, but with the hosts - more used to the bouncy surface - looking the more likely to score. Midway through the half they did just that.

Soon after Hereford doubled their lead via a disputed penalty corner and Wotton found themselves 2-0 down at half-time.

As Wotton battled hard to get back on terms, their play began to look more ragged with poor decision making and ball retention creeping back into their game. Despite this, they were still taking the game to their opponents and spurned numerous gilt-edged chances to even up the scores.

Hereford continued to look dangerous on the break and their ascendancy in the latter stages was reflected in two further goals, while the visitors continually failed to hold on the ball up front. There were positives for Wotton. Skipper Matt Tait continues to lead by example, while James Luton also enjoyed a good game on the left wing, but they were left to rue their errant finishing in a game that probably should have been a high scoring draw.

l Wotton’s ladies climbed out of the relegation zone with a heartening 4-0 win over bottom club Bretforton in Severn Division One of the West Women’s Hockey League.

Their seconds continued their fine development by securing a 4-4 draw at Colwall and Malvern 2nds.

l Wotton Badgers lost 3-1 to Lansdown in the Gloucestershire Under-16s Hockey Circle.