Haslemere’s men’s fourth team slipped to a late 3-2 defeat at Winchester’s fourth team in their cup match.

Given the freezing conditions, it came as a surprise when Winchester declared the pitch was playable and the match was on.

Haslemere fell behind against the run of play after the ball was trickling towards the goal before being stopped by Charlie Bennett’s boots. Winchester converted the penalty flick.

The equaliser, shortly before half-time, was nothing more than Haslemere deserved.

Daniel Higgins intercepted the ball and released Milo Lawson, who drove into the D and won a short corner.

Chris Hatter claimed the goal, and he was the last Haslemere player to touch the ball before a home defender inexplicably shot towards his own goal and the keeper was unable to prevent it from going in.

The teams went in at half-time on level terms at 1-1, which was a fair reflection of an equal half of hockey.

Winchester got on the front foot in the second half and regained the lead after some scrappiness at the back from Haslemere.

Haslemere equalised through a cool and collected finish from Elliott Hart, who ran goalwards after a pitch-splitting pass from Bennett before slotting past the keeper with aplomb.

Both sides matched each other in terms of general play and chances created, until Winchester scored a winner with the last play of the match.

Some misfortune at the back from Haslemere saw the Winchester forward take advantage and strike the ball into an empty net with Eoin and Fothers lying prone on the floor.

Haslemere’s women’s fourth team slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at United Services Portsmouth in South Central Women’s Division One Solent on Saturday.

The match was an even affair, but Haslemere were unable to find an equaliser as they fell to defeat.