CHRIS Price was Oxford Hawks’ shoot-out hero as two saves helped them knock-out Reading to reach the EH Cup quarter-finals.

It sealed a remarkable triumph for the underdogs, who fell behind to their Premier Division hosts inside 15 seconds.

They were quickly 2-0 down, but hit back to level and went on to win 4-3 on penalty strokes.

It took a huge effort from the Berkshire club just to get the game on.

But the snowfall which decimated the hockey programme across the region was cleared in time for Sunday’s tie.

Hawks started the game as outsiders to progress and the odds lengthened before any of their players touched the ball.

Reading were ahead with their first attack and looked to be cruising through when former Hawks player Charlie Ellison doubled the lead in the tenth minute with a rasping penalty corner strike.

But the visitors showed character and got back into the game on 20 minutes.

Kit Cutter reduced the arrears with a crisp drive from the top of the circle.

Suddenly Hawks had their tails up and it was 2-2 before half-time, when Sam Chilvers converted a rebound.

There was little to choose between the sides after the break, although Hawks had to dig deep to keep out a couple of Reading penalty corners.

But the away side held firm to reach the shoot-out, where Price starred in the 4-3 success.

OTHER RESULTS

Men: PHC Chiswick 2, Oxford Hawks 1 (I Gurden); Ashford 3rd 9, Oxford 6th 0.

Women: Slough 2nd 3, Oxford 3rd 3 (S Williams 2, E Forrester); City of Peterborough Ladies Over 35s 2, Oxford Hawks Over 35s 6 (K Kerr 2, Z Lamb 2, R Black, S Butler); Reading U16 9, Oxford Hawks U16 A 2; Cheltenham U14 0, Oxford Hawks U14 A 3.