Despite the freezing temperatures, Oxford Hawks were on fire in their top-of-the-table Premier 2 clash with High Wycombe.

They went on the attack from the first whistle, and were rewarded with a deserved 3-2 win.

The match was played at Cokethorpe School, near Witney, because of renovation work to Hawks’ main pitch at Banbury Road North.

Going immediately onto the front foot, Hawks had several chances before Sam Chilvers flicked the ball into the net after the initial penalty corner drag flick was saved by the keeper.

With probing passes from man-of-the-match Charlie Ellison directly to the forwards, more goals should have been scored.

Wycombe’s keeper made several good saves.

Dave Cresswell hit the post. With better finishing Hawks should have been four up.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Wycombe won a short corner. The ball was injected, mis-trapped by the Wycombe stopper but somehow the ball ended up in the middle of Hawks goal, making it level at the break.

The second half had just started when Hawks won a short corner which was dispatched by Cresswell.

Wycombe had a few solo attacks which did not trouble the home defence.

Tom Coppin was yellow carded for not retreating five metres from a Wycombe side ball.

Cresswell dropped to right half, and launched a monster aerial two thirds of the length of the pitch.

It was picked up by Ted Bennett, and he fed Nick Ferraby, who ran the ball to the top of the D and passed back to Bennett on the far post for a simple put in.

With five minutes to go, Wycombe scored from a short corner, which was flicked high into the roof of Hawks’ goal.

The Hawks ship rocked a little but they played out for a well-deserved three points, which put them three points clear at the top with two matches to go before the Christmas break.

l THE freezing weather severely hit the hockey programme with around 80 per cent of matches called off.