Oxton on the road to nowhere after defeat

Feb 28 2007 by Nick Moreton, Birkenhead News

OXTON travelled the full length of the M62 to face a difficult away fixture against promotion challenging Hull in the Northern Premier League.

Playing under the shadow of the KC Stadium, Oxton squandered early possession to ensure that the bulk of play was located in the home side’s half.

Hull soon took the lead, but Oxton got back on level terms when they equalised through Jonathan Hodgekinson at a short corner.

Excellent tackling from Hodgekinson to win the ball left Dave Bailey unattended on the right hand side of the area.

On receiving the slipped pass, he was deftly able to commit the keeper before guiding the ball into an empty net to go 2-1 ahead.

Oxton were unfortunate to have a good goal disallowed when play was brought back and a free-hit given to the visitors for an earlier foul.

Hull then took the advantage when they equalised with a short corner goal midway through the half.

Unable to convert their control of the game into goals made a rod for Oxton’s back.

Hull took advantage and made a rare second half foray into Oxton’s end of the pitch to score a fortunate breakaway goal to go 3-2 ahead.

Oxton continued to attack for the last 10 minutes, but could not find the equaliser.

Meanwhile, the second team had a successful weekend, beating Northop Hall 7-3 on Saturday and in a rearranged game on Sunday defeating Formby 3-0.

The third team drew 2-2 against Neston South Wirral when two goals from Jack O’Connell helped them to recover from 2-0 down.

Elsewhere, the fourth team eased their relegation fears with a 3-0 win against Sale, while the sixth team had an impressive 6-0 win against Macclesfield.

Neston South Wirral continued their recent erratic form, losing 2-1 at lowly Bebington on Saturday, before defeating Gainsborough 3-2 in the National Vase on Sunday.

Saturday’s game was a strangely low key local derby, while they avenged last season’s defeat by Gainsborough to progress into the quarter final of the National Vase on Sunday.

Carl Smith flicked home a golden goal winner to shatter the Lincolnshire side and send Neston through to the last eight for the first time in three years.