Hodgson proud of his Doncaster side after Cup defeat to Beeston

Leigh Hodgson’s side, who play in the second tier of the men’s league, were overwhelming underdogs against the holders and league champions and in the end had no answer to the strength of the favourites in what was the first time any team from Yorkshire had reached the final.

“We went there more in hope than expectation,” said head coach Hodgson.

“But it was an absolutely brilliant experience. We were by far the best supported team at the final.

“We never expected as a second tier team to get as far as that but it’s certainly given us the taste for it and hopefully one day we will earn another chance.”

Hodgson spoke in the build-up how Doncaster would look to create problems on short corners and it was from this set-piece that they scored both their goals.

They trailed to Andrew Monte’s double when 19-year-old Joe Morrison fired home on 39 minutes to halve the deficit.

But after Chris Gregg and Ben Arnold had restored Beeston’s superiority, Jonathan Redfearn again gave Doncaster hope with a goal from a short corner.

However, two late goals from Martin Jones and David Ames put an unfavourable one-sided slant on the scoreline.

“The scoreline probably flattered them a little,” said Hodgson.

“We kept it tight in the first half, and then at 2-1 down there were a couple decisions that went against us. Even at 4-2, we hit the cross bar, so it’s just the smallest of margins. And in the end they scored two goals when we were tiring and their fitness told.”

In the women’s final, also held at Cannock, Bowden Hightown beat Surbiton 4-1.

Great Britain cruised to an impressive 4-2 win over New Zealand to take the bronze medal at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.