South League: Rover Oxford and City of Oxford escaped the chance of relegation from the Regional League in contrasting fashion on the final day of the campaign.

While Rover romped to a 9-1 victory over Gerrards Cross, City were involved in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Sunbury and just avoided the relegation play-offs on goal difference.

The already doomed Sunbury side scored a breakaway goal, but City responded within minute through Aaron Teale .

City dominated the rest of the half but only had a single goal from the returning Simon Harrison from a switched short to show for all their work.

The second half started badly for City as a weak flick from a Sunbury short corner evaded all the defenders on the City goalline.

City continued to carve out chances. Simon Mould scored City's third with a sharp deflection past the keeper.

Their defence, however, continued to give Sunbury hope, and a speculative shot from an acute angle made it 3-3.

Harrison added his second from another switched short, but Sunbury scored a sloppy equaliser with four minutes remaining.

Rover Oxford's emphatic win over already-relegated Gerrards Cross lifted them up to fifth in the final standings, their highest position of the season.

The margin of victory flattered them as they struggled to impose themselves in a goalless first half.

The outcome turned on an incident at the start of the second half.

Gerrards Cross converted a scrambled effort over the goalline, soon after the umpire had blown for a penalty corner.

The umpire initially gave the goal, but after furious complaints from the Rover players and consultation with his other umpire the decision was reversed and a penalty corner awarded.

Cross failed to convert this chance and Rover broke to the other end where Daniel Smyth opened the scoring from a tight angle.

The visitors seemed to lose all belief, while Rover carved open their opponents' defence at will.

The result was a nine-goal blitz by Rover in 25 minutes through forwards Daniel Smyth (3), Richard Beer (3) and others from Matthew Fisher, Gwyn Williams and Ed Miles.

The result enabled them to finish above City.

Abingdon were made to rue several missed first-half chances as a poor second-half performance saw them crash to a 5-1 defeat at Marlow in Middlesex Berks Bucks & Oxon Division 1.

They must win their final match against bottom of the table Tring to finish out of the bottom four and thus clear of any possible threat of relegation.

The home side led at half-time, courtesy of a fiercely debated penalty stroke.

Marlow increased their lead early in the second half, before Will Trigg pulled one back for Abingdon with a low flick at a penalty corner.

From this point, Abingdon were unable to match Marlow, who added three further goals.

Other results: Gerrards Cross 2nd 4, Rover Oxford 2nd 2 (R Lawrence, K Murfin); Staines 4, City of Oxford 3 (J Messer, D Cowley, R Harding).

Under 16 boys - Mercian Cup quarter-final: City of Oxford 3 (S Wilson, D Coffey, R Sheldon), Beckenham 5 (aet).

Under 14 Boys - County League: City of Oxford 3 (J Burke 2, D Moussavi), Henley 0.

Under 18s Boys: Wales 2, Oxfordshire 3 (Connor Black 2, A Edwards).