Despite suffering another defeat, Oxford Hawks gave a much more impressive display when losing 2-1 away to St Albans in Investec Conference East on Saturday.

Indeed, Hawks took the lead with an outstanding deflection by Becky Odlin.

St Albans forced a series of short corners, the third of which they converted to make it 1-1 at the break.

In the second half, St Albans were put on the defensive.

But a momentary lapse in concentration from the Hawks back-line allowed the home side to snatch a winning goal.

Hawks piled on the pressure, but were unable to earn themselves a corner against the continuous, low tackles put in by the home defence.

Oxford let slip a 2-0 lead as they suffered a 4-3 defeat away to Brighton & Hove in South Clubs League Division 2.

A deflected goal from Catherine Reaney and a Rachael Lammey strike from a corner appeared to put Oxford in charge.

Brighton rallied to make it 2-2 at half-time and then went 3-2 ahead early in the second half.

Oxford's best player Carol Harris levelled matters with a superb strike, before Brighton broke clear to score the winner.

The visitors’ attempts to snatch a point were denied by good saves from the Brighton keeper.

Witney went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Eastcote in Divison 3A.

A goal either side of half-time put the hosts 2-0 ahead.

But Witney did not give up and pulled back a score when captain Katie Gatt converted a penalty corner.

Despite forcing a number of corners, Witney could not equalise, while their keeper Sam Ayres made several great saves at the other end.

OTHER LADIES RESULTS

Oxford 2nd 5 (L Smyth 2, H Backhouse, L Eddowes, R Viviers), Staines 2; Oxford 3rd 4 (J Arthur, S Cannon, L Pritchard, L Baker), Wycombe 3rd 0; Oxford 4th 3 (N Forecast, P Burgess, L Green), Oxford Hawks 3rd 2 (E Black, K Hardstone); Oxford 5th 2 (R Vanderburg), Amersham and Chalfont 3rd 1; Oxford 6th 0, Bracknell 3rd 1; Oxford 7th 0, Wokingham 4th 1; Kidlington 2 (K O’Sullivan, L Skinner), Marlow 2; Oxford Hawks 2nd 2, Bicester 1; Oxford Hawks 5th 1 (A Miller), Sonning Vets 2; Bicester 0, Buckingham 4; Oxford Univ 3rd 3, Bicester 2nd 2 (M Scott, S Philpott); Henley 4th 0, Bicester 3rd 3 (J Watson, J Thripland, S Lewis).

JUNIOR RESULTS

Boys: Oxford Hawks Under 18s 4, Reading 0; Oxford hawks Under 14s 6, Reading 0; Oxford Hawks Under 14, Cirencester 0.

Girls: Oxford Hawks Under 18s 3 (S Bennett 2, A Flory), Reading 2; Oxford Hawks Under 14s 1, Oxford 1 (H Turner); Oxford Under 14 3 (E Hunter 2, H Turner), Reading 2.