Aled Howell scored a wonder goal as Cheltenham Hockey Club overcame Team Bath Buccaneers 2nds 4-2 to move to the top of West Men’s Premier.

The home side have now opened up a three-point gap over previously unbeaten Buccaneers as the season moves towards the halfway mark.

Cheltenham remain unbeaten having won six and drawn two in the 12-strong league, and they will certainly head to Whitchurch on Saturday in confident mood.

Howell’s goal was undoubtedly the highlight of what was an excellent win against Buccaneers at the weekend, with Cheltenham captain Chris Laird declaring: “It was the best goal I’ve ever seen live.”

That’s quite some statement from the 30-year-old who has been playing hockey since the age of 12.

“It was unbelievable,” he continued. “An aerial ball was hit long from just outside our D by Bertie Wyatt and Aled, a cricketer who bats left-handed, switched his hands in mid-stride, let the ball bounce once before smashing it into the top left hand corner of the net.”

That remarkable strike put Cheltenham 4-0 ahead after just 30 minutes against opponents who had only conceded five in their first seven games.

Howell, an over-35 Wales international, had already scored one before his thunderbolt with Rich Baker and Guy Bristowe getting the others.

What made their start all the more incredible is that Laird admitted that Cheltenham were feeling a bit nervous before the game.

“It felt like a six-pointer,” he said. “But we came out of the blocks really strong, it was great to see.”

Buccaneers came back strongly after the break and Laird admitted: “We maybe got a bit carried away, everybody got a bit excited. They put us under a bit of pressure, it was good to get over the line.”

Only the champions will win promotion to the national league – Cheltenham were relegated at the end of last season – and Laird added: “There is still a very long way to go. We don’t want to get giddy like we did against Bath, we’re taking it one game at a time.”

Whitchurch have won three, drawn two and lost three this season and Laird is expecting a tough test in Cardiff on Saturday.

“We played them in pre-season, I thought they’d be up nearer the top,” said Laird, a forward who is in his first season as captain. “They are always a difficult side to play against.”

Buccaneers, meanwhile, host sixth-placed Clifton Robinsons 2nds on Saturday. Cheltenham play the return game at Buccaneers on Saturday 11^th March.