Round-up of all the weekend’s hockey action from Neston South Wirral and Oxton

Nov 26 2008 by James Maloney, Birkenhead News

Round-up of all the weekend’s hockey action from Neston South Wirral and Oxton

NESTON South Wirral had a packed weekend, with fixtures against West Derby and Berkswell & Balsall Common.

In the first of the double-header, West Derby opened the scoring with a well hit penalty corner strike evading Paul Shepherd and Harry Bush.

But it was another penalty corner that brought the equaliser after Barry Roberts' strike was saved and Rob Cookson was there to finish into the roof of the net.

In the second half, Dan Khedun was brought on for Pete Glasman. He made an immediate impact, picking up the ball with his first touch and finishing from the top of 'D'.

Many clear cut chances were missed in the following minutes, as Neston still pushed to increase their lead.

With the last touch of the game, West Derby deflected a piercing ball past Paul Shepherd into the Neston net, who were extremely disappointed not to come home with more than a point.

Sunday brought Neston to the depths of Warwick in the HA Vase, but it was the Wirral side who made the brighter start against Berkswell and Balsall Common.

Marauding right back Dan Khedun received the ball at the top of the 'D' and after some outrageous skills, put the ball in the corner of the goal with a reverse stick power shot.

After continuing pressure from Neston, the lead, and Khedun's goal tally, was doubled as he converted a penalty corner.

Khedun then received the ball from a brilliant cross field pass from Glasman, rounded the floundering keeper from the top of the 'D' and completed his hat-trick in his last game for Neston before his big money transfer to Australian hockey.

Berkswell and Balsall Common grabbed a late consolation, but Neston found themselves into the next round after a solid and professional performance with Khedun giving them the perfect leaving gift.

Meanwhile, Oxton’s game was postponed due to snow in Newcastle, so the second team took the spotlight for the short trip to Bebington.

Oxton got off to a bright start, moving the ball round well and opening up one or two gaps, but sloppy play gifted Bebington the opening goal with their first attack.

In the second half, Oxton started much livelier and got the equaliser through a deflected short corner strike by Peter Cole.

Bebington re-took the lead with a reverse stick strike into the roof of the net, while Oxton continued to battle and a slick training ground move finished by Jared Dunbar earned the away team a point. Goals from Rob Dellius and Sam Dewes earned the third team all three points as they defeated Blackpool 2-1, while the fourth team drew 2-2 with Crewe Vagrants III.

Oxton’s fifth team ended top of the table Wilmslow II’s unbeaten record with a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Andy Powley and Dave Miles.

The sixth team kept their excellent run going and stay in second place as they defeated third placed Knutsford 2-0, with captain Paul Gerrie and Tom Scott grabbing the goals.