East London Hockey Club 6 University of Essex 4

Two goals from captain Adam Willoughby gave the Division 3SE table-toppers a seventh straight win at Mile End.

The visitors, adopting a high attacking formation, moved two goals ahead early on.

However, East London – led by midfielder Phil Rae – regained their composure and a calm finish from James Cook put them back in the game by half-time.

Willoughby deflected in an equaliser soon after the break, but the home side’s 100 per cent record looked precarious once more when the students’ restored their two-goal cushion.

However, East London refused to accept the loss and a change of formation quickly turned the tide.

Willoughby was on hand to finish off a superb pass from Toby Butler to grab his second goal of the game.

Then a frenetic period of play saw an Essex player sin-binned and East London made the most of their man advantage to draw level thanks to Butler’s flick.

With their opponents reeling, the Oranges moved in front for the first time courtesy of Adam Lord.

And, in a nervy finale, Rae showed fine skill to beat three Essex defenders and finish calmly to finally kill off the students’ challenge.