Bingley Bees let slip an early two-goal lead and ultimately had to fight back from 4-2 down to earn a draw at home to Acomb Seconds in Division Five North of the Yorkshire League.

Stephen Booth opened the scoring and Bill Livingstone made it 2-0 inside ten minutes with an excellent reverse-stick shot into the top corner.

But the third-placed Bees never capitalised on their advantage and allowed the visitors to reduce the deficit on the stroke of half-time.

Acomb, with just one win from five previous matches, then defied their lowly position in the table to score three times in the opening 12 minutes of the second period.

This finally shook Bingley from their slumbers and Joe Manning pulled the score back to 4-3 within four minutes.

Wayward passing from both teams then saw the game swing to and fro before James Pearson snatched a point with just eight minutes to go.

The men’s team were also in action the next day as they edged past Sheffield University Bankers 3-2 in the League Cup to set up a semi-final trip to Lincoln Roses.

Robbie Manning earned the Bees a 15th-minute lead but it was soon level, with a similar pattern following in the second half as Booth’s goal was quickly cancelled out.

But when Livingstone fired home Bingley’s third goal towards the end, this time their opponents had no time to answer.

Bingley Bees’ ladies dropped into the Premier Division bottom two after a 0-0 draw at mid-table Leeds Seconds.

The match was end-to-end throughout and although Leeds had numerous short corners, they were unable to capitalise on them due to strong Bingley defence.

Rachel Holdsworth had some great runs and shots on goal at the other end but could not find a way past the Leeds keeper, while Sarah Kellett was strong in midfield.

The Bingley defence worked tirelessly and were aided greatly by player of the match Kirsty Matthews, who excelled in goal.

The ladies’ second team knew they faced a tough test at home to Lincoln Roses, who topped the Division Four table with eight wins out of eight – and so it proved as the visitors ran out 8-2 winners.

Bingley showed plenty of grit and courage after falling 4-0 down very early in the contest and Sian Porter reduced the arrears with an effortless reverse-stick shot.

The highlight for the Bees came in the second half as a superb pass from Jenny Bone picked out Jane Sharkey, who beat the Roses keeper after a one-on-one run at goal.

But Lincoln produced hockey that was worthy of a much higher division and went on to run out comfortable winners.

Bingley’s only consolation was that they were only the second team to score against the leaders this season as Roses doubled the number of goals conceded from two to four in eight games played.

Sharkey was named player of the match, while keeper Rachel Fuller earned the opposition’s vote.