It may have been Valentine’s day, but Slazenger have no love of playing at Stockton and for the third successive season came away empty handed.
After a run of disappointing results, Slazenger lacked self-belief at the start of this North League East Division 2 clash.
The lively Stockton forward line stretched the Horbury side’s defence and after stealing the ball in midfield, they went one up inside ten minutes.
Slazenger tried to rally with Mike Thornicroft prompting some good moves from the back. However, the home side doubled its lead after 25 minutes from a swift counter-attack.
Slaz’ made a better fist of it in the second half with Mark Swinden’s tireless running in midfield the major factor. Indeed second-placed Stockton were rocking when Richard Whawell cleverly flicked the ball into the roof of the net from a penalty corner. The next score was also going to be crucial and despite solid defending from Adrian Buckley and Ben Wells and an excellent display from keeper, James Cowden, it was Stockton who restored their two goal advantage.
There was no way back for Slazenger as Stockton wrapped up the points with a well-taken fourth.
Slazenger are now in a relegation dogfight and will need to improve when they face York seconds at home on Saturday.
