Hockey: Chaz Edmondson treble boost for Harrogate

Harrogate started the match by closing Wakefield down and not letting them get out of their own half.

The early pressure paid off with Gonzalo Ayala having a shot parried and Edmondson on hand to grab his first of the match.

A fortuitous goal followed as Edmondson wriggled free on the left wing before firing a cross-come-shot that found the near post to extend their advantage.

A Wakefield forward then shrugged off a series of tackles before squaring to his teammate to score, making it 2-1.

Harrogate reacted positively with a slick routine finished off confidently by debutant Toby Harris.

Despite being bottom of the league, Wakefield were soon back in it, one of their forwards rounding goalkeeper Stanworth to convert.

However, two goals in two minutes put Wakefield to the sword.

First, Edmondson grabbed his hat-trick with a neat finish and then turned provider with a wonderful cross that was met with a nonchalant flick from Ayala.

Harrogate visit Didbury this Saturday hoping to clinch their first away win of the season.

Captain Will Rogers said: “Our mentality is to go forward all the time, when sometimes it’s better to be safe when the game is under control.

“We took our goals really well but we should have put the game to bed early on in the second half, but Wakefield kept on going and made it difficult for us.”