Oxford Hawks fell to a penalty stroke in the last five minutes of their English League Division 2 encounter against early leaders Havant.

They started the game without the in-form Paul Poulter, suffering from flu, and without regular goalkeeper Phil Hargraves, who badly damaged his knee during training in the week.

In a frantic and, at times, bad tempered game, both sides were evenly matched. Hawks lost Pete Swainson early on with a blow to the head but still looked capable of causing problems without creating any clear-cut chances.

Havant forced a few short corners but didn't look like scoring until Hawks failed to clear and the visitors' shot was stopped on the line by a Hawks foot. The resultant penalty stroke hit a post and Hawks survived.

The second half was even tighter, although both sides created good chances to open the scoring. Chris Boyle, replacing keeper Hargraves for his first league game, played soundly to keep Havant out.

Hawks created several chances including opportunities for Baldock, Brooks, Francis and Tim Newton, but were unable to convert.

Then, in the closing minutes of the game, Havant shot at goal and the ball hit Nick Styles's foot and looped over the crossbar.

Although Styles was some way from the goal line, the umpire judged the foot to have stopped a certain goal and awarded a penalty stroke from which Havant made no mistake.

Oxford University were also beaten, going down 4-2 at St Albans, despite fighting back from 3-0 down to 3-2.

Hammond struck a hat-trick for St Albans with goals after 19, 28 and 55 minutes.

The Blues replied with goals from Fulford (57) and Sellick (63), before Maguire's 65th-minute winner killed off their revival.