Two-goal hero Ian Scanlon helped St Albans Hockey Club’s men’s first team snatch a thrilling 3-2 away win at City of Peterborough with three late penalty corner goals to overturn a two-goal deficit.

Needing a win to stay in contention for promotion and seize second spot in the East Prem from a Peterborough side who had not lost at home for 18 months, Scanlon’s low thunderbolt began the comeback.

But it was a bold move by head coach Andy Halliday in withdrawing goalkeeper Iain Fraser at the death which reintroduced Scanlon as a roving additional outfield player.

Tangerine pressure forced a final corner as the umpires blew for time and Scanlon’s high drag flick stole the points with the final touch of the game.

The win sets up a showdown with top of the league Wapping this Saturday at Oaklands College.

The other St Albans goal was scored by South African international Lance Louw.

He has this week been conducting free hockey sessions at St Albans senior and junior schools as well as coaching the St Albans HC juniors and academy.

In other games the ladies first team were unlucky to go down 1-0 at Wimbledon while the ladies seconds followed a fine 2-1 league win against Harleston Magpies on Saturday with a magnificent performance in their national cup semi-final at Birmingham University on Sunday until a last-minute equaliser led to the agony of a penalty shootout defeat.

The men’s thirds are already London League Division Four champions and the men’s seconds beat Old Loughts 2-0 to go third in London League Division 1, while there were wins too for the men’s fourths, sevenths, eighths and Praetorians.