HUDDERSFIELD Dragons Men’s First team finally showed the desire that has been missing so far this season as they started 2013 with a battling 3-2 victory over Sunderland Broom.

Dragons went into the game knowing that only a string of wins can save them from relegation, and from the first whistle they began to play with the confidence and togetherness missing in the first half of the season.

Huddersfield were dominant with possession and created many headaches for the Sunderland defence, although the visitors took the lead after a defensive lapse saw then beat Canham in goal.

But Dragons were quick to hit back, Courtney finishing off a penalty corner routine with a deft touch at the back post.

Dragons continued their pressure, and were unlucky to go into the break 2-1 down after another breakaway goal.

The second period started in much the same vein as the first, with copious amount of pressure exerted on the Sunderland defence.

And Cooke made it 2-2 with a fine solo goal after picking the ball up 30 yards out he sliced through the defence, rounded the keeper who took him out, only for Cooke to bounce back to his feet and tuck the ball into an empty net.

With less than 10 minutes remaining Goldsmith sealed only their second win, as he wrong-footed the keeper and lifted the ball high into the Sunderland goal.

A fine team performance brought a much-deserved three points and, with half the season remaining and a new-found desire, the first team have started to show the fight they will need to lift them to safety in North East Division II.

Dragons Men III 0 Leeds Adel III 0

AFTER a fine win over league leaders Airedale last time out, Huddersfield went into this fixture with far more confidence against a team who had inflicted a nine-goal defeat on them in September.

Adel were missing their two strikers from that earlier game and only threatened with breakaway attacks, but although Huddersfield dominated they were unable to test the Adel keeper enough.

Their best effort fell to Beaumont who was put through by an excellent pass from Kelly, but the keeper was swiftly out to smother the ball.

Dragons lacked the same threat in the second half after the departure of Lewis, who had enjoyed a fine first period on the right.

As the teams tired, both had decent chances in the last few minutes to snatch a win, with Adel failing to convert any of their seven penalty corners thanks to alert keeping from MacCallum.

A fast-paced and enjoyable game, which though ending scoreless, was a fine result for Huddersfield against second placed Adel.

Dragons Men V 3 Airedale II 2

CONRAD DALES made sure he got plenty of shots in on goal and surprised the keeper with one from a slight angle to open the scoring, and then tried his luck with a push from well out and was again successful to put Dragons 2-0 in front.

The home side continued to pose the greater threat going forward and Paul Dallas made a chance for himself with an excellent dribble into the D and, after two bites at the cherry, forced the keeper into a save.

Sam Hannam hit the post with the rebound but Max Bowden followed up quickly to sweep the ball home for a 3-0 half-time lead.

Some of the Dragons appeared to think the game was won at half-time and Airedale changed their formation and took advantage when they were rewarded from a short corner when the ball was eventually flicked across the keeper into the corner of the goal.

And the visitors soon had another goal, this time from open play, when some neat passing created an opportunity which was superbly finished with a waist-high reverse-stick shot.

Huddersfield realised they needed to step up their game and did so, looking dangerous when going forward and marshalling their resources to restrict the number of further opportunities they allowed their opponents.