It may have been close, but Wimbledon hockey club held onto the points against Cannock, and now have their destiny in their own hands, says coach Ben Marsden.

Goals from Ali Brogdon, James Jewell, Chris Gregg and Caspar Phijffer had Wimbeldon 4-0 ahead and in control.

However, Cannock fought back and almost pulled off the unthinkable, only to fall 4-3.

The win lifted Wimbledon back into the top four of the Men's Hockey League Premier Division at the expense of Brooklands MU - and a place in the play-offs is back on the cards for the defending champions.

Marsden said: "It was a little squeaky bum time towards the end, but it was not too bad.

"There were patches of really outstanding hockey that we have been trying to play for a long time, but we always knew Cannock were a young, well-drilled and very determined side so they would never give up.

"I am slightly disappointed we could not seal it at 4-0, so we need to review the second half and ask why we did not put them to the sword."

Wimbledon initially lost their place in the top four following defeat at Holcombe on the league's resumption two weekends ago after the festive break.

Marsden added: "It is clear when our internationals are not with us, we are a very different unit.

"The international players have been doing purely fitness work with their international training, and so they have not picked up a stick since Xmas.

"So they were little rusty, and with a couple of injuries we had, the combination meant the Holcombe game did not go the way we wanted it to go, but it is in our hands now to finish top four and make the play-offs."

Wimbledon host Surbiton on Sunday.

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