Latest from Oxton Hockey Club

Feb 2 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

OXTON hockey club men’s first team visited promotion rivals Wakefield in the Northern Premier League on Saturday.

This was an important game for both clubs; Wakefield needed to win to try and catch Oxton and keep their slim promotion hopes alive and Oxton were in need of the three points to try and reduce Preston’s lead at the top.

Wakefield began the game brightly, penning Oxton in their own half and winning several short corners.

The visitors, however, weathered the early storm, and building from the back, took control of the game.

On 15 minutes their dominance was rewarded when McKenzie’s cross was skilfully put away by Dave Bailey.

Ten minutes later the lead was doubled. A foul on Nik Heyes resulted in a quickly taken free hit from captain Gordon Moore who controlled the ball in the area and lashed it past a static keeper.

In the second half Oxton seemed content to preserve their lead and the home team pressed hard, encouraged by vocal and very partisan spectators.

After 15 minutes a short corner was well converted and the Oxton defence was put under increasing pressure. With ten minutes left the equaliser duly arrived courtesy of a defensive mistake.

Ironically the culprit was Sam Cooke who, with Paul Parry, had had an impressive afternoon in defence.

He failed to control an awkward back pass and a grateful Wakefield striker smashed the ball past keeper Green.

This had the desired effect on Oxton and in the final ten minutes they were unlucky not to secure the win.

The ever dangerous Moore rattled a post from a short corner and the Wakefield keeper made a double save from Bailey and Cooke.

At the final whistle neither team was particularly pleased, the result serving to consolidate Preston’s position as league leaders.

Oxton will hope that this coming Saturday they can get back to winning ways when they entertain University of Durham.

Most other games fell victim to the weather although the fourth team were able to play and defeated Neston South Wirral thirds 3-1; Mike Kirkham 2 and Danny Brennan with the goals. Goals from Rob Dellius and a great solo effort from Tom Scott couldn’t prevent the fifth team falling to a 5-2 defeat against Wrexham seconds.

NICK FLYNN