Oliver Didham found the net four times but still saw his Old Loughtonians first XI side suffer a 5-4 loss away to Conference East Division leaders Holcombe on Saturday.

The visitors started the high-scoring encounter disappointingly by falling behind in the second minute. Things got worse as the home side doubled their lead within six minutes but the Old Loughts players dug in and began to get some confidence back into their play.

Didham got his team back into the match as he put away the first of his four goals from a short corner to make the score 2-1 going into half-time.

With the opposition rattled, Didham doubled his tally eight minutes into the second half to wipe out the early advantage.

The next period in play saw both teams demonstrate excellenct attacking play as following Didham’s equaliser, the home side edged back ahead almost immediately from the restart.

Didham wasted no time in completing his hat-trick only for Holcombe to snatch back the advantage once again when play restarted.

Old Loughts were indebted to Didham who was in unstoppable form, lashing in his fourth goal to once again drag the match back level, only for a disputed umpiring decision to ensure the game ended in favour of the league leaders.

Meanwhile, Lauren Penny was the difference as Old Loughtonians Ladies came away with a 1-0 win against Essex rivals Chelmsford the following day.

Without Alice Wills, away on an England Under-16 trial, and Chantelle Fernandes, who was with Guyana on international duty, Old Loughts fielded a slightly altered team.

The game started with end-to-end action as both teams created half chances.

Old Loughts won their second penalty corner of the game in the 16th minute and Lauren Penny stepped up to strike it, smashing the ball home to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Both teams turned the ball over cheaply throughout and the match was a fairly scrappy affair.

The hosts allowed their opponents to attack more in the second half and they won several penalty corners but the ever consistent Loughts backline never looked like conceding.

Old Loughtonians are now sixth in the Investec Women’s Hockey League East Conference and need three points from their final game before the mid-season break to stay amongst the league contenders.