Oxton Hockey played relegation threatened Formby at the weekend

Mar 2 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

IN the Northern Counties Premier Division, Oxton hockey club men’s first team hosted relegation threatened Formby.

With a weakened squad, Oxton planned on soaking up Formby’s pressure and catching them on the break, and the Wirral team almost got off to the perfect start in the opening minutes.

Sam Cooke seemed certain to score but a robust challenge from a Formby defender managed to defuse the chance and the away side fortuitously regained possession.

This reprieve spurred Formby on and after having a perfectly good goal disallowed they took the lead through a penalty flick.

Oxton maintained their composure and had a couple of good chances themselves before Ali Parkes equalised with a smart finish past Formby’s keeper.

As the half came to a close, Oxton seemed to have control with Formby struggling to break down the home team’s compact formation, but the visitor’s best move of the game sliced open Oxton’s defence enabling a Formby forward to score with a good first time shot.

In the second half Oxton’s midfield of Wolstencroft, Given, Cooke and Hodgkinson dominated the play and Formby struggled to cope with the onslaught.

However, shots on goal were few and far between and it wasn’t until Oxton started to win some short corners that they deservedly equalised – Dave Bailey received the ball on the edge of the area and passed to Gordon Moore who clinically scored his 18th goal in as many games.

Oxton’s small squad looked tired after their exertions and it was Formby who won a series of short corners in the dying moments of the game, the last of which was converted to win the game 3-2. Oxton next face Sheffield Bankers with the hope of avenging the defeat they suffered in Yorkshire earlier in the season.

Elsewhere the seconds were halted in their quest for the league title when they drew 0-0 against Formby seconds and the sixth team eased their way from relegation with a crucial 1-0 win against Triton seconds.

NICK FLYNN