LYTHAM started well with some good attacking hockey and were unlucky not to score after hitting the post four times in the first half.

Rotherham's answer was to score with their only attack of the half, making the score 1-0 at the interval!

The second half was a completely different game. Lytham started poorly with a catalogue of errors, and before they knew it they were three goals down with the match looking beyond them.

To their credit they dug deep and Graham Shaw neatly converted a short corner with a reverse stick flick.

As Lytham pressed further forward to get back into the game they allowed another Rotherham break to come through and they scored to make it 4-1.

Lytham then turned on the pressure and, with their short corner routine working to good effect, converted three in short succession to make it 4-4. Unfortunately Lytham have been at this score too many times before, and all the hard work was wasted as they gave the ball away again for Rotherham to snatch a win.

A late consolation goal for Lytham was superbly converted by Ben King, but this was not enough to get them back in the match and Rotherham then finished by scoring two late goals to make it 7-5.

Rotherham 1st XI 7 Lytham St Annes 1st XI 5