Six of the best for victorious Oxton

Dec 13 2006 Wirral News

OXTON'S first team stormed into the Christmas break with a resounding 6-0 victory against previously unbeaten Preston on Saturday.

Coach Phil Edwards and skipper Nik Heyes were looking for a reaction to last weeks disappointing performance at Bowdon and could have no complaints as the whole squad excelled themselves.

Oxton started brightly and took the lead inside the opening five minutes from Dave Edwards' fierce shot following good link up play down the right between Heyes and Dave Bailey.

Preston appeared in a state of shock as Oxton continued to press ahead, sensing vulnerability in the away side's rear-guard. A break down of ashort corner led to Dave Given deservedly doubling Oxton's advantage. Given was back in the heart of the midfield following injury and put in a performance of real quality.

But Preston finally started to come into the game and found themselves in some decent positions without ever really troubling first team league debutant goalkeeper Simon Dolan.

Oxton defended well, Sam Cooke typifying the team's commitment with an important goal line clearance and the home side went in at the break two up.

The second half started with both sides trading chances as Oxton re-shuffled following an injury to Heyes.

He returned to the pitch just in time for the returning Gordon Moore to get in on the action with a straight strike finish at a short corner.

Preston were now letting their discipline drop, frustration setting in as they realised a big game was slipping from their grasp.

It was not long before they went down to 10 men, effectively ending any lingering hopes of a comeback.

Given then got his second as he bundled home from close range before Bailey got the goal he deserved for all his hard work.

With the crowd demanding six, young Sion Owen opened his account for the first team with a sublime finish.

The umpires finally put Preston out of their misery and Oxton finished the first half of the season on a real high, with a performance and victory they had threatened for some time.

In other games, the fifth team defeated Alderley Edge 1-0 thanks to a Jonathan Foster goal while the sixth team ground out a 2-2 draw away to Alderley.