HOCKEY: Banbury facing crunch battles (From Oxford Mail)

HOCKEY: Banbury facing crunch battles

5:27pm Monday 1st March 2010 in

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Banbury picked up their fourth draw in six Premier 1 games when they drew 3-3 at third-placed Chichester.

The north Oxfordshire side, now heavily involved in a scrap at the bottom, face a vital two weeks.

This Saturday, they host Ashford, who are already relegated, and then they play Purley. Two wins are vital if Banbury are to move away from the relegation zone.

With 16-year-old Tim Brown making his first-team debut, Banbury started well, but the home team went ahead with a penalty corner routine finished by Adam Beare.

Banbury replied quickly through Simon Boardman, who drilled home a reverse stick shot.

Shortly after, Banbury took the lead when a penalty corner went wrong and led to James Clement improvising and taking a shot that deflected in for his first goal of the season.

Alex Thakore levelled before half-time, but in the second half Banbury were again on the ascendancy.

Boardman rounded the keeper and after a series of fumbled shots, it was Adrian Simons who bundled the ball over the line to make it 3-2.

However, Chichester squared it up from a penalty corner just before the end.

Omar Islam’s goal was not enough for Oxford Univers-ity, beaten 2-1 at home by in-form Spencer (Wandsworth).

Oxford Hawks’ Premier 2 match was postponed.

Dan Smyth’s double brought Rover Oxford a fine 2-1 victory over second-placed Eastcote in the Regional division.

Rover Oxford 2nd managed to earn their first victory since October as they won 3-2 at Mill Hill. Jamie Douglas and Matt Neilson got the goals.

Hawks 2nd held West Hampstead 2nd to a 1-1 draw.

AN angry Division 2 clash between Witney and Eastcote Simbas saw Simbas pick up six yellow cards.

Witney still struggled to capitalise fully, however, but goals from Justin Peel and Richard Demczak in the first half, along with a fine finish from Ben Wells in the second, gave them a 3-2 victory to increase their lead at the top.

City of Oxford were involved in a remarkable 7-5 win at Gerrards Cross in Division 1. Charlie de Burgh (2), Andy Small (2), Tom Brown (2), and Richard Harding scored.

OTHER SCORES Sonning 2, Wallingford 0; Banbury 2nd 4 (S Armstrong 2, D Clark, G White), Sonning 2nd 1; Staines 3rd 3, Banbury 3rd 1; Banbury 4th 2 (R Mellor-Brook, R Cooper), Bicester 2; Hawks 3rd 2 (M Lumb, J Turner), W Hampstead 3rd 2; Hawks 4th 1, Amersham 0; Hawks Fledglings 0, Birkbeck 0; Hawks Senators 1, Basingstoke Vets 0; Hawks Falcons 4 (I Sobey 2, S Griffiths, J Elliott), Wokingham Vets 3; Aylesbury 3rd 2, Witney 2nd 2 (T Yallop, S Taylor); Witney 3rd 6 (N Vigar 2, A Birnie, F Barnard, N Dunnington, B Baker), Bracknell 3rd 1; City 2nd 1, Harrow 1; Wokingham 3rd 0, City 4th 1 (A Milne); Newbury 4th 0, Wit-ney 4th 4 (R Dyer 2, O Collins, S Hodges); Witney 5th 3 (C Summers 2, R Pollard), City 5th 2; City Bulls 5 (P Scragg 3, S Curnock, M Hunter). Salisbury Strikers 1.

County youth: Oxon U14 4, Sussex 3; Oxon U13 4 (S Fisher 3, N Devaney), Sussex 0.

EH Mixed Cup 2nd rd: Banbury 9 (R Parker 3, D Clark 3, S Boardman 2, C Murphy), Old Sills 2. Mixed friendly: Adastral 1 (A Chakera), Thame 0.