Oxford Hawks drew a blank over the weekend, losing 4-3 at Old Georgians in South League Premier Division 1 and bowing out of the HA Trophy on penalty flicks to Sheffield University Bankers after a 4-4 draw on Sunday.
Sustained pressure from Hawks against the old boys was rewarded with a goal from Charlie Ellison and he doubled the lead from another short corner.
Georgians pulled one back from a penalty flick, before Sam Chilvers smashed the ball home to put Hawks 3-1 up. With 30 seconds of the first half remaining, the home side reduced the arrears again.
Hawks took their foot off the gas in the second half and paid the price as the home side struck twice.
Against Sheffield, Hawks were 2-0 up in the first ten minutes thanks to James Ward and Chilvers.
However, the students hit back to go in 3-2 up at the break.
Ric Corbet’s goal restored partity in the second half and an own goal gave Hawks a 4-3 advantage, only for Sheffield to level with three minutes remaining.
Neither side could find a breakthrough during extra time and Sheffield held their nerve in the penalty flick shoot-out to edge it 8-7. Oxford came back from a goal down at half-time to triumph 6-1 at Slough in MBBO Regional Division 1.
Dan Smyth and Dan Bleach both notched doubles, while Andy Wynd and Matt McKeown were also on the mark.
Oxford moved level at the top of the table with Oxford Hawks 2nd.
Wallingford proved too strong for Chiswick at the Hithercroft, winning 3-0. Eddie Allen put them ahead midway through the first half and Alun Lloyd doubled the lead before the interval.
Chiswick looked dangerous in the second half, but Steve Marks killed them off with Wallingford’s third goal from a penalty corner. Witney continued their winning run with a 3-2 victory over Wycombe 2nd.
Tim Hardy and man-of-the-match Jacob Deacon twice gave Witney the lead, Wycombe levelling each time, but Deacon’s second proved decisive.
Bicester returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Oxford 3rd in MBBO Division 1.
CJ Birtles put them ahead at the break and Stuart Moore, with his first goal for the club, and Birtles again made sure of the points.
OTHER RESULTS.
MBBO Regional Div 1: Oxford Hawks 2nd 3, Aylesbury 3.
Div 2: Oxford 2nd 2 (R Beer, J Lawton-Smith), Maidenhead 3.
Div 3: Oxford 4th 3 (J Bissell, C Savory, L Sheldon), Tring 3.
MBBO Open Div 3: Oxford Hawks 3rd 3 (J Ward 2, J Rogers), Aylesbury 2nd 1; Wokingham 2nd 0, Wallingford 2nd 8 (P Flavell 3, T Charleston 2, B Horlock, R Wheeler, A Jones).
Div 4: Bracknell 3, Witney 2nd 2 (S Summers, H Collins).
Div 5: Oxford Hawks 4th 8, Aylesbury 3rd 0.
Div 6: Witney 3rd 5 (P Button 2, D Nasralla 2, D Vermeulan), Old Merchant Taylors 4th 1; Oxford 6th 10 (E Down 3, J Williams 3, P Charrett, F Demey, R Bennett, P de la Fargue), Eastcote 6th 1; Oxford 7th 2 (A Neville, G Cadman), Wycombe 5th 0.
Div 9: Oxford 8th 7 (S Fisher 3, M Dapplyn 2, T Joyner, J Fisher), Bracknell Terriors 3; Oxford Hamsters 3 (J Jones 2, W Jones), Gerrards Cross 3rd 3.
Div 10 West: Oxford 9th 3 (H Ahmed 2, M Tappin), Sonning 6th 1.
Other matches: Oxford Hawks 5th 1, Eastcote 7th 7; Oxford Hawks 6th 5 (S Smith 2, N Mahon, J Florey, P Scragg), Aylesbury 5th 1; Oxford Hawks Falcons 9 (S Griffiths 3, J Kaluza 2, P Bennett, T Henman, P Roche), Haslemere Vets 1; Witney 4th 1, Sonning 5th 2.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here