Banbury’s hopes of avoiding the drop from South League Premier 1 look grim after losing 2-1 at home to bottom club Eastbourne.

It was a must-win game for both strugglers and it means the losers now occupy last place in the table.

The same old story of missed chances unfolded for Banbury, who dominated with midfielders Jimmy Dick, Steve O’Connor and Matt Bull to the fore.

Eastbourne scored a scrappy goal two minutes into the second half and made it 2-0 from a short corner.

Banbury pulled one back through skipper Charlie Murphy and threw everything forward in the closing stages, even taking off keeper Steve Hicks and having 11 outfield players.

But they were still unable to find an equaliser.

Oxford Hawks suffered only their second defeat in Premier Division 2 as they lost 4-0 at West Hampstead, who replace them at the top.

Oxford remained on course for promotion from Middlesex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional Division 1 with a 3-1 win at Sonning.

A goalline block from Ben Richards kept Sonning at bay from a short corner but he was injured in the process and took no further part in the game.

Oxford put that behind them and Dan Smyth gave them the lead, Dan Bleach making it 2-0 before Sonning got on the scoresheet Smyth netted his second from a short corner in the second half to seal the points.

Wallingford were 4-0 victors away to local rivals Henley, Alun Lloyd converting a slick penalty-corner routine to give them the lead at the break.

Further goals from Eddie Allen, Tim Chamberlain and Steve Marks saw Wallingford move up to joint second in the table.

Witney’s promotion bid in Division 2 suffered a blow as they fell to only their third defeat of the season 3-2 away to Newbury & Thatcham. Their goals came from Tim Hardy and Ben Wells.

Bicester were hoping to reverse a run of three games without a win against Milton Keynes 2nd, but finished well beaten 4-1 in Division 1.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Bicester gave themselves hope when CJ Birtles converted a penalty flick after Jonny Reid was brought down, but two more Milton Keynes goals killed them off.

OTHER RESULTS.

Oxford Hawks 2nd 3 (D Blackburn 2, S Buckingham), PHC Chiswick 1; Aylesbury 2nd 0, Oxford Hawks 3rd 4 (M Lumb 2, D Gilbert, P Dunleavy); Oxford Hawks 4th 2, Amersham & Chalfont 4th 2; Oxford Hawks Fledglings 4 (R Fogden 2, N Richards, D Robins), OMT 3rd 1; Oxford Hawks Senators w/o Bournemouth Vets (5-0); Oxford Hawks Falcons 4 (N Biggs 2, J Kaluza, I Sobey), Winchester Wanderers 1; Oxford 2nd 2 (N Greenwood, C Mac-Kenzie), West Hampstead 2nd 3; Tring 2, Oxford 3rd 3 (O Dale 2, R Hughes); Oxford 4th 4 (L Cadman, S Hudson, K Wharton, R Young), Leighton Buzzard 3; Wokingham 2nd 0, Oxford 5th 3 (L Sheldon, D Albon, W Jenkinson); Oxford 6th 2 (A Chaudray, D Cowley), Slough 3rd 2; Ashford 4th 1, Oxford 7th 4 (J Flather, P Charrett, I Horner, J Williams); Oxford 8th 4 (A Neville 2, M Daplyn, J Fisher), Wallingford 5th 2; Wycombe 7th 0, Oxford Hamsters 2 (M Carter, A Harris); Oxford Bulls 0, Guildford Vets 2; Wallingford 2nd 2 (G Gale, R Stokes), Wycombe 1; Witney 2nd 2 (S Summers, N Dunnington), Amersham & Chalfont 2nd 2; Wycombe 5th 4, Witney 3rd 1 (J Winfield); OMT 4th 0, Witney 4th 4 (P Button 2, B Carroll 2); Witney 5th 2 (P O’Brien 2), Abing-don 3rd 3; Bicester 3rd 0, High Wycombe 7th 7; Oxford Hawks Falcons 2 (M Crampton-Smith, P Dunleavy), Welsh Dragons 1.

Youth: Oxford Hawks U16 1, Oxford 2 (J Tasker, H Stevenson).