Bowdon Hockey 4-0 Oxton

Sep 29 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

Bowdon Hockey 4 - Oxton 0

OXTON Men’s Hockey first team began their Northern Counties Premier League campaign with a tough away trip to Bowdon.

Oxton started the game brightly, enjoying much of the possession with Nik Heyes and Jonathan Hodgkinson causing the home team problems with their approach play down the flanks.

Despite controlling the game in the opening 20 minutes, Oxton failed to create many chances on goal as a result of Bowdon’s resolute defending. Bowdon in turn began to exert more pressure and following an attack down the right, despite brave defending from Jack Wolstencroft which left him injured, the umpire allowed an advantage and Bowdon scored from close range.

With Oxton rattled, Bowdon continued to take the initiative and shortly after going in front, were awarded a penalty flick.

However, goalkeeper Olly Green proved more than equal to it to ensure the deficit remained 1-0.

Buoyed up by the penalty save, Oxton finished the half strongly with Hodgkinson winning a short corner, but the away team couldn’t capitalise on this and the game remained delicately poised at 1-0.

In the second half Oxton seemed unable to find their earlier form, being careless in possession and failing to mount any periods of extended pressure.

Bowdon started to open up Oxton with increasing regularity and quickly doubled their lead.

As Oxton chased the game they became stretched, an issue which was compounded by ill-discipline, leaving them down to ten men twice in the second half.

Bowdon began to dominate proceedings and were able to bypass the overworked Oxton midfield - it wasn’t long before Bowdon made it 3-0 with a goal which went from their defence to the back of the Oxton net with three accurate passes and a simple finish.

A fourth goal was added near the full time whistle to complete Oxton’s misery.

NICK FLYNN