Rover Oxford missed a golden opportunity to record their first South Regional League win of the season, when going down 6-5 to second-in-the-table Henley in an amazing game.
With four enforced changes through injury, Rover took the lead through Greg Horne, tapping in a square pass from Daniel Smyth, but Henley soon equalised from a short corner.
Henley were soon in front after a debatable short corner, before Smyth smashed home a reverse-stick shot for the first of his hat-trick to equalise. Then he put Rover in front with another solo effort.
In a purple patch midway through the half, Henley plundered three goals without reply - two short-corner strikes and a deflected cross at the far post.
At 5-3 Rover looked beaten, but Rob Lawrence and Danny Bleach forced a short corner that was buried by Horne, and Smyth completed his hat-trick minutes later.
The game took a bizarre twist as umpire David Jenney was forced to retire hurt.
In the ensuing short break while a replacement was found, Henley regained their composure and scored the winner with a minute left.
With High Wycombe beating City of Oxford 1-0 away, Rover's defeat leaves them bottom of the table.
City lost to a goal 20 minutes from the end.
Abingdon remain unbeaten away from home in Division 1 following a 2-1 victory at Bicester.
The visitors led 1-0 at half-time, courtesy of Kev Smith's goal scored on the break after 15 minutes.
Bicester equalised in the second half when Chris Rough's half-volleyed reverse-stick shot from ten yards out flew into the goal.
From a penalty corner, Ross Morgan secured the three points for Abingdon with a fierce strike which flew under the diving Bicester goalkeeper.
Wallingford kept up their 100 per cent record with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Reading Phoenix.
A strike from Richard Pool was disallowed for 'dangerous play', but only after a couple of minutes of debate between the umpires.
This incident seemed to fire up the visitors who ensured the win with Churchall's second.
Phoenix netted a late consolation goal.
A hat-trick from skipper Steve Bates helped Witney to a 7-1 win over Hayes.
Bates and Richard Demczek made it 2-0. Lax defending then allowed Hayes a goal before Geoff Ellis put Witney 3-1 ahead at the break.
Bates hammered home Witney's fourth before further goals , including one each from Ellis and Bates completed the tally. Bates also missed a late penalty.
Other scores: Oxford Hawks 2nd 4 (Dunleavy, Hamilton-Martin, Baldock, Brown), Woking 2nd 0; High Wycombe 2nd 1, Rover Oxford 2nd 0; Newbury 2nd 6, City 2nd 5 (B Sandow 3, A Bell, W Salter); Hawks 3rd 2, West Hampstead 3rd 1; City 3rd 0, Phoenix 2nd 4; Hawks 3A 1 (M Shirley), Bicester 3rd 0; Winchester Vets 4, Hawks Senators 4 (S Dawson 2, P Dunnill, P Bennett); City Bulls 2, Andover Vets 3; Hawks Falcons 3, Woking Vets 2.
Under 14 Boys Mercian League: Hawks 4 (G Creed 2, D Blackburn, T Chilvers), Aylesbury 1.
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