Oxton turn up the heat

May 23 2007 by Birkenhead News

Spencer 3

Oxton 5

OXTON Hockey club's mixed team stormed into the semi-finals of the National HA Plate after a 5-3 win over London side Spencer.

After a long journey and in energy sapping heat, Oxton struggled with the early pace and were losing 1-0 after 10 minutes.

But they gradually started to exert some pressure and it was not long before Dave Bailey equalised for the Wirral side.

Some sloppy defending from Oxton allowed Spencer to retake the lead.

Before the half time interval, Oxton dominated and it was not long before their pressure paid off when Sam Cooke cooly finished to leave the scores level at the break.

In the second half, a long ball down the side line by Mark Donnelly was chased down by Emma Noakes.

Her strong run set up Dave Bailey for his second and to give Oxton a 3-2 advantage.

Almost immediately Oxton extended their lead when Ben Russel fed Noakes, who scored a well-deserved goal.

Sam Cooke got his second and Oxton's fifth after a sharp turn and reverse stick shot beat the keeper at the near post. Spencer grabbed a late consolation, but it wasn't to stop Oxton running out 5-3 winners.