Neston South Wirral Hockey Club enjoyed mixed fortunes, while Oxton’s unbeaten start to the 2009 year comes to an end

Feb 4 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

NESTON South Wirral enjoyed mixed fortunes at the weekend, defeating Didsbury on Saturday before slumping at Knutsford in the Cheshire Plate on Sunday.

Saturday’s encounter was a scrappy affair, with Didsbury enjoying plenty of possession in the first period before Matt Kennedy fired in from a narrow angle to give Neston the lead.

The talented Tom McCurdy added a second from a well-worked penalty corner routine to shatter the hosts as Neston began to take charge.

Neston controlled the game in the second half, with a disciplined display, but were nearly left to rue several missed opportunities as Didsbury pulled one back against the run of play with ten minutes left.

Didsbury laid siege to the Neston goal in the closing minutes, but the visitors held firm to secure a vital three points.

On Sunday, a youthful looking Neston side were defeated 2-1 at high flying Knutsford.

The hosts opened the scoring midway through the first half from a penalty corner, but Neston deservedly levelled when young Rob Cookson flicked past the keeper.

Sadly a defensive blunder allowed Knutsford to regain the lead before the interval.

Despite playing some attractive hockey after the break, Neston were unable to break down the hosts resolute defence but can take much heart from an excellent performance.

This weekend, Neston entertain the uncompromising West Derby side at the Recreation Centre.

Meanwhile, Oxton’s unbeaten start to the 2009 year came to an end on Saturday in the most of controversial of circumstances against promotion favourites and league leaders, Deeside.

Oxton once again showed great team spirit as they came back from 3-0 down but fell just short as the match ended 3-2 thanks to goals from Gordon Moore and Ali McKenzie.

But the main talking point was a disallowed Oxton goal in the final seconds, which baffled many as to why it did not stand.

Oxton welcome Wakefield to Townfield Lane on Saturday, hoping for a better display than in the reverse fixture earlier on in the season.

Goals from Richard Sutton and Chris Lovell could not prevent the second team going down 4-2,while the third team made the long trip to Lytham St Annes but were also defeated.