The new Oxford club, formed after the merger of Rover Oxford and City of Oxford, drew 1-1 at Wallingford in their first South League match.

Oxford went ahead in the Regional Division 1 fixture via a short-corner rebound after Dan Smyth’s strike was blocked, Dan Bleach poking the ball home. In the second half, Wallingford missed a penalty flick, but continued to press forward and a good move saw Horatio Cary drive to the baseline and cross for Tim Chamberlain to make it 1-1.

Banbury got their Premier Division 1 campaign up and running with a 3-3 draw at home to Brighton.

The Sussex side opened the scoring with a controversial goal, but George Brooker soon put Banbury level.

Brighton’s second was quickly cancelled out by Royden Burt after some good build-up play from Matt Bull and Kyle White.

The second half was just as scrappy as the first, with both umpires making some bizarre decisions.

After Banbury failed to convert three consecutive short corners, Brighton broke away to make it 3-2, but Burt ensured it finished all square.

Oxford Hawks put a stop-start journey around the M25 behind them to win 3-1 at newly-promoted Woking in Premier 2.

Hawks started strongly, moving the ball with confidence, but it wasWoking who nearly snatched the lead when Denzil Dolley, their South African internationnal, stole the ball on the 25 line with his trademark shave tackle, only to fire the shot wide. The visitors went ahead from a short corner which Dominic Roche dispatched high into the Woking net .

It became 2-0 after 19 minutes from another short corner, this time new boy Jack Biggs flicking the ball just inside the post.

Woking were denied further goals by keeper Phil Hargreaves.

After the break, Sean Duval made it 3-0 following a goalmouth scramble, before Woking reduced the arrears.

Bicester lost 4-2 to Gerrards Cross in MBB&O Division 1, soon finding themselves 2-0 down from short corners and trailing 3-0 at the break.

Luke Smith and Harry Gaunt gave Bicester hope before the visitors’ fourth goal settled it.

OTHER RESULTS.

South League Regional Div 1: Oxford Hawks 2nd 3 (R Craig, S Kelly, T Martin), Ashford 2.

MBB&O Div 2: Marlow 9, Oxford Hawks 3rd 0.

Div 3: Oxford 4th 0, Milton Keynes 5; Oxford 5th 4 (W Carr 2, R Bentley, W Jenkinson), Leighton Buzzard 3.

Div 4: Henley 3rd 2, Wallingford 2nd 6; Oxford 2nd 2 (B White, R Hughes), Staines 2nd 3; Oxford 3rd 2 (S Hudson, A Jurisich), West Hampstead 2nd 6.

Div 5: Wallingford 3rd 2, Abingdon 2nd 2.

Div 6: Oxford Hawks Fledglings 6 (M Crowley 5, S Smith), Leighton Buzzard 3; Oxford 6th 5 (Tasker 3, Chaudray, Brougham), Oxford 7th 2 (Taylor, Sewell).

Div 7: Oxford Hawks 4th 4 (F Webster, M Hughes, J Sobey, R Venables), Meadhurst 3; West Hampstead 7th 3, Wallingford 4th 3 Div 9: Wallingford 5th 2, Oxford Hamsters 2 (D Cooper, J Jones).

Div 10: Witney 5th 3, Wallingford 6th 1 Other matches Oxford Hawks Falcons 4 (P Bennett 3, S Griffiths), Polytechnic 1; Banbury Piranhas 4 (L Frazer, C Squire, N Britto, S Atkins), Thame 2nd 0.