DEESIDE Ramblers’ hopes of sealing their place in the top level of English hockey are over.

The Tiverton outfit lost two of their three matches at the England Hockey League Premier Division Promotion Tournament at Cannock Hockey Club over the bank holiday weekend.

Ramblers, who capped a stunning debut season in the Conference North by winning the title, were swept aside 9-0 in their opening game by Conference East champions and eventual winners Canterbury before captain Ali Ghazanfar and Russ Hornby offered their replies in a 7-2 reverse to Brooklands.

With no chance of claiming one of the two promotion places due to their inferior goal difference, Geoff Price, James Warburton and Ghazanfar then fired the Ramblers to a 3-1 victory over Conference West champions Team Bath Buccaneers, whose defeat meant Brooklands sneaked into second spot to remain in the Premier DIvision.

There was also heartbreak for Deeside Ramblers Ladies as they lost the Cheshire Cup final 6-1 to Brooklands Poynton Ladies 2nds.

The Manchester outfit scored the first goal of an entertaining game before the Ramblers drew level courtesy of Becky Andrews, set up by Rachel Dathan and Nicky Roberts.

The rest of the half was keenly fought but, crucially, Brooklands netted twice before the break before adding three more after it.