Happiness is . . . a win at last. Bottom-of-the-table Oxford Hawks, who have been improving gradually over recent weeks, chalked up their first win of the season in the National Men's Division with a 3-2 triumph at St Albans.

Gareth Parker was their hero, notching a hat-trick in a game where all five goals came in open play.

Parker fired Hawks in front, St Albans hit back to go 2-1 up at half-time, and then he struck with two more very well-taken goals.

Alex Kynaston, playing against his old side, was also superb for Hawks.

But the main difference compared to earlier in the season was that they got into the attacking D far more than the opposition.

They also tightened up at the back for a very welcome first win.

Said Hawks coach Andy Clark: "We had a team meeting two weeks ago and sat down to talk about what we needed to do.

"There's still two-thirds of the season to go, and we've still got all the sides near the bottom to play again, so we really still believe we can stay up. There's no reason why we can't - if we get the details right."

f=Helvetica bi s=6Other scores: Hawks 2nd 4, Trojans 2nd 4; Hawks 3rd 4 (J Kane 3, J Easterbrook), Ashford 3rd 1; Hawks 4th 2, Ashford 4th 2; Hawks Fledglings 4 (T Silman 4) Witney 3rd 3.