Canterbury's Aaron Hudson tracks Cannock during Saturday's 6-2 home defeat by Cannock Picture: Paul Dennis

By Alex Hoad

Skipper Michael Farrer was not too despondent despite Canterbury’s men losing ground on leaders Beeston after slipping to a 6-2 defeat at home to third-placed Cannock on Saturday.

The city club’s fairytale start to the National Premier Division campaign has been interrupted by back-to-back losses but Farrer said: "The effort was there, it was just the performance that was lacking."

Farrer thought he had got his side back into the game at 3-2 down, only to see a penalty corner rebound disallowed.

It was the first points dropped by the city club at Polo Farm this season.

Farrer added: "The last two results showed why we were not getting carried away by our good start. However, even though we were disappointed to lose, we are still in a good position.

"If you’d offered us second place, two points ahead of third after nine games before the season, everyone would have snapped your hand off.

"We can’t get carried away. If we’d lost the two games – after three and seven games for example – and won the last two, then we’d be going to Brooklands (2pm) this weekend on a huge high."

Beeston are six points clear of the city club after a 4-1 win over Reading and will be the visitors to Polo Farm in the final game before the festive break next weekend.