TWO late goals condemned Oxford Hawks to an unlucky 5-3 defeat in an entertaining South League Premier Division 1 match at Sevenoaks.
Hawks dominated the opening passage, deservedly going ahead when Richard Barlow pounced after Ethan Chapman’s shot had only been partially saved, Sevenoaks equalising before half-time.
For the first five minutes of the second half, Sevenoaks showed their class to take the lead, but this time Kit Cutter levelled for Hawks.
It appeared only a matter of time before the visitors took the lead, but cruelly, Sevenoaks went ahead after a speculative smash was met in the D by a number of sticks, the ball ending up in the Hawks net.
Refusing to lie down, Hawks again drew level through Cutter.
With five minutes remaining, a draw looked inevitable, but a wayward shot by Sevenoaks was deflected into the goal off a Hawks stick.
The visitors battled hard in a bid to save the game, but the Kent side scored from a breakaway to seal their success.
Bottom club Witney recorded their first win of the season in Middlesex Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional 1 with a 5-0 thrashing of visitors Staines 2nd.
Skipper Tim Hardy led the way with a brace, while Liam Frost, Andy Willemite and Jacob Deacon all chipped in.
Bicester romped to a 5-0 success at home to Ashford 2nd in MBB&O Division 1.
The hosts took the lead through Jonny Reid, following a great through ball from Dave Sutcliffe.
They made it 2-0 when CJ Birtles and Reid played in Leo Graves, who finished with a reverse-stick shot.
After the break, Bicester continued to pile on the pressure and added a brace of goals from Sutcliffe, before Luke Smith completed the scoring with a simple finish.
Other results: Oxford Hawks 2nd 1 (S Buckingham), Horsham 3; Oxford Hawks 3rd 3 (M Crowley, T Simpson, T Turland), Wokingham 2; Oxford Hawks 4th 9 (A Scholey 4, E Bennett, G Biggs, W Cairns, R Finnegan, J Keeling), Brunel Univ 0; Oxford Hawks 5th 1, Ashford (Middlesex) 3rd 1; Oxford Hawks 6th 9 (M Dodd 4, R Manson 3, R Venables, W Smith), Oxford 8th 2; Oxford Hawks Senators 0, Southgate Flagons 6; Phoenix & Ranelagh 4, Witney 2nd 0; Witney 3rd 1 (T Trivett), Staines 4th 2; Witney 4th 1 (J Taylor), Harrow 2nd 2; Banbury Piranhas 0, Bicester 3rd 4 (N Styles, J Crook, P English, S Birtles).
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