Banbury needed a win at mid-table Spencer to boost their survival prospects in Premier Division 1 of the South League, but they crashed 3-1.

Keeper Steve Hicks came in for his debut and was beaten twice before the break, before Matt Bull found the Spencer net to give the visitors hope.

However, a third home goal after intense pressure leaves Banbury with it all to do in their remaining fixtures.

Oxford Hawks remain on course for promotion from Division 2 after defeating lowly Epsom 2-1. Hawks had the territorial advantage in the first half, going ahead after Kieran Roche pounced on a loose ball in the D.

With 15 minutes left, Epsom levelled the score, but man-of-the-match Sam Chilvers won a short corner which was despatched by Dave Cresswell for 2-1. There was a scare for Hawks when Roche was judged to have committed a deliberate foul in the 25, giving Epsom a last-chance short corner, but keeper Phil Hargreaves swotted the Epsom drag-flick away.

Oxford lost their MBB&O Regional Division 1 top-of-the-table clash 1-0 at home to Marlow, although they still have games in hand over the leaders.

There were few clear-cut chances – Marlow had the only short corner of the first half – while James Nielsen failed to convert two efforts.

After the interval, the home side had more control of the game, but Marlow netted a rebound after a fine save from Chris Mitty.

Witney kept up their push for consecutive promotions with a 4-3 win over Oxford 2nd in Regional 2. Two goals from Justin Peel and one apiece from Sam Hodges and Ben Wells secured victory to maintain third spot in the table.

Ed Collins, Nick Greenwood and Andy Small scored for Oxford.

Wallingford made it four MBBO Regional 1 wins out of four in 2012 as they saw off Sonning 3-1.

Freddie Campbell opened the scoring, and although the visitors soon levelled, Steve Marks made it 2-1 at the break, and Horatio Cary netted the decisive third goal.

OTHER RESULTS.

Oxford 2nd 3 (A Griffiths 2, A Small), Staines 2nd 7; Oxford 3rd 0, Staines 2nd 2; West Hampstead 4th 3, Oxford 4th 3 (H Tasker, A Jurisich, R Young); Oxford 5th 1 (L Sheldon), Milton Keynes 3rd 7; OMT 3rd 4, Oxford 6th 5 (D Cowley 2, M Neville, B Hudson, D Kingsland); Oxford 7th 2 (J Burke, Williams), Marlow 3rd 5; Bracknell 1, Oxford 8th 1; Oxford Hamsters 3 (K Walker, J Jones, M Carter), PHC Chiswick 6th 0; Abingdon 3rd 9, Oxford 9th 0; Oxford Bulls 1 (S Fletcher), Southampton Vets 3; Oxf-ord Hawks 2 (D Cresswell, K Roche), Epsom 1; OMT 1, Ox Hawks 2nd 1 (N Ferraby); Ox Hawks 3rd 7, Slough 2nd 0; Ox Hawks 4th 7 (A Spittles 3, J Black 2, A Higgins, H Brannan), Bracknell 3rd 1; Hawks Senators w/o Haslemere (5-0); Hawks Falcons 2 (S Griffiths 2), Woking Pitts 0; Eastcote 6th 0, Hawks Fledglings 8 (A Bentley 3, N Richards 3, S Clark 2); Sonning 4th 0, Wallingford 2nd 3; Wallingford 3rd 5, Banbury 3rd 1; Windsor 2nd 0; Wallingford 4th 0; Wallingford 5th 2, Bicester 3rd 0; Wycombe 4th 4, Witney 2nd 5 (N Dunnington 2, S Summers, T Yallop, C Partridge); Witney 3rd 6 (N Vigar 3, A Birnie 2, F Bernard), Meadhurst 1; Witney 4th 4 (P Button 2, R Dyer, S Hook), South Bucks 3rd 6; Banbury 4A 3, Witney 5th 8 (P Morris 6, P O’Brien 2).

Youth: Ox Hawks U14 5, Amersham & Chalfont 0; Ox Hawks U14 3 (C Colebrook 2, J Black), Witney U14 2.