A TEA-TIME start seemed to suit basement club Bingley Bees when they faced Harrogate Thirds at Granby Hockey Centre in Yorkshire Men's Division Four North.

The Bees started at pace on a cold evening and it paid dividends when Joe Manning scored in the third minute against the surprised hosts.

Yet despite some good possession and attacking hockey, the visitors were unable to extend their lead and eventually lost 2-1.

Harrogate were a different side in the second half and levelled the scores in the 12th minute.

Simon Woodhead twice saved Bingley with goal-line clearances and the Bees keeper pulled off some exceptional saves but was unable to prevent Harrogate, who climbed to fourth, scoring again with 14 minutes to go.

Bingley Seconds lost 3-0 at home to Bradford Fifths in the Men's Development League at Bradford Grammar School.

All the goals came in the first half but the Bees were proud of their second-half display, both sides making chances on a day when each side finished exhausted.

Best for Bingley were skipper George Miller and defender Leo Bunting, who was their player of the match.

Bingley lost 3-1 at home to Leeds Seconds in the Yorkshire Women's Premier Division, while the Bees second team went down 5-0 at Driffield Thirds in Division Four.

Captain Jo Gray volunteered to go between the posts as the second string were again without a regular keeper and they trailed 4-0 at half-time against tireless hosts.

No blame can be attached to Gray, who guided the ball away from the net well, but Driffield added a fifth goal in the second half.

Player of the match for the Bees, who are bottom of the table and in need of a change of strategy if they are to avoid relegation, was midfielder Rachel Belk.