Rover Oxford fought back superbly to earn a vital 2-1 win over Firebrands in the Slazenger Engalbnd League's Women’s Conference West.
The victory takes them away from tenth place, which brings automatic relegation at the end of the season. The ninth-placed team goes into a relegation play-off.
Rover had lost 7-1 to Firebrands in the first half of the season and their opponents started strongly again with a score in the opening minute.
Rover looked set for another big defeat as their defence soaked up wave after wave of Firebrands attacks.
Caroline McCulloch saved some hard shots in goal to frustrate the opposing forwards.
Firebrands were awarded many penalty corners in the first half, but finding the waterbase pitch too bouncy, were unable to score again.
Leanne Grimsley beat three defenders and passed to Bex Strange to calmly place into the net to level the scores.
Firebrands never recovered, and seven minutes later Becky Hibbert fired in the winner.
Oxon Under 13 girls recorded a 2-0 win over Middlesex in a friendly at Weybridge with goals from Kasey Butler and Jess Oakhill.
City of Oxford A and Wallingford were the under 13 boys and girls winners respectively in City’s inaugural junior tournament.
OxfordHawks won both under 11 events.
Oxon Development League: Oxford Hawks Harriers 6 (A Flory 5, C Burrows), Wychwood 0; West Witney 1, Banbury 2.
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