Oxford Hawks produced an encouraging display away to high-flying Firebrands in English League Division 2 but came away on the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat.

Firebrands went ahead early in the game when a scorching short-corner flick rebounded off a post and fell to a forward to convert.

Hawks came back into the game well, though, and, in what was an open but even first half, drew level through Andy Clark after good work from Pete Swainson and Simon Dawson.

The Oxford side started the second half well and should have gone ahead with one of several chances. Ed Baldock perhaps had the best opportunity after a one-touch pass from Dawson left him with the keeper to beat, but his shot went agonisingly wide.

Disaster struck 15 minutes into the half when the umpire failed to pick up a ball lifted into Richard Fogden on the edge of the Hawks D and the rebound fell to a Firebrands player who finished well.

Hawks put themselves in further trouble when they conceded a soft goal five minutes later.

They rallied, however, and pulled a goal back with ten minutes to go when Fogden converted a rebound from a short corner.

Firebrands killed the game off in the dying minutes when Swainson was controversially adjudged to have fouled the home team's player-coach, David Hacker. Before Hawks could react, the hit was taken quickly and long to a free forward who scored.

Hawks next face leaders St Albans at home, desperately needing a result to restart their season.

**Oxford University let slip a 2-0 half-time lead as Havant hit back with two goals in the last seven minutes from Absalom (63 minutes) and Cunliffe (69) for a 2-2 draw at Iffley Road.

Cullis (6) and Kojima (34) had earlier put the students in charge.

**Hawks 2nd had a workmanlike, if unspectacular, 5-2 win over Holcombe 2nd at Banbury Road North.

Andy Brooks hit a hat-trick, the best of which was a short corner drag flick which went in off the underside of the crossbar. John Kane and Declan Eclare completed the scoring.