Missing half a dozen experienced regulars, the home team came out firing from the start.

Sam Dunford opened the scoring, but Sheffield upped the intensity and, after the interval, the Scimitars took a stranglehold on proceedings.

Within minutes of the re-start, they had levelled the scores and, just 60 seconds later, they were in front.

Things went from bad to worse when Sheffield extended their lead from a penalty, and a defensive lapse saw the Hawks concede a fourth.

Bentham's solo effort reduced the arrears, but it was not enough.