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Witney's graham Matthews gets a shot away in the 4-4 draw with City of Oxford

Oxford Hawks found the going tough at Staines on Saturday and suffered a demoralising 4-1 Premier Division 1 defeat.

The game followed a familiar pattern. Hawks missed some decent early chances and went behind to a well constructed Staines goal midway through the half.

Hawks were level by half-time with a Nick Ferraby follow-up to a short corner strike and at the interval were very much in it.

Staines looked sharp and incisive going forward but were shaky at the back.

Ten minutes into the second half Staines were awarded a penalty stroke when Hawks keeper Jamie Legg upended a forward.

Staines converted the stroke and thereafter bossed the game, picking up two more goals in the last ten minutes to pocket the points.

Dan Smyth hit a hat-trick as Rover Oxford gained their first win in 12 games with a 4-2 Premier Division 2 win at BBHC.

Missing several keys players, Rover actually started the brighter and soon went ahead through Smyth's quick finish shortly after Gwyn Williams had struck the post from a free hit.

BBHC levelled after Rover allowed them to advance into their D unchallenged.

Two further goals gave Rover a 3-1 lead at half-time. First Smyth finished from a penalty corner and then Rich Beer converted his 11th of the season before Smyth completed his hat-trick Rover still stand a chance of avoiding relegation but need two wins from their last two games.

Banbury continued their promotion push with a 2-1 win over Winchester.

Craig Irvine, within two minutes of coming on, scored with his second touch, and Tim Craven got the winner with a reverse-stick shot.

A second successive clean sheet and a hat-trick from forward Will Trigg were the highlights of Abingdon's 6-0 demolition of Leighton Buzzard in Area Division 1.

Abingdon's opener came when Chris Way's free hit found Josh Tomlinson, and although his first effort was blocked by the keepe, Tomlinson scooped home the rebound.

Five minutes later, Adam Wheeler's ball into the circle was touched on by Tomlinson and Trigg made no mistake from five yards.

Andy Ringsell forced home from close range after Nathan Conn's shot was blocked.

Ron Smith blasted home No 4, Trigg added a fifth through a well-struck penalty corner, and Trigg completed the rout after good work by Tomlinson.

City of Oxford drew 4-4 at Witney and felt it was a point gained rather than two dropped as they fought back from 4-2 down.

Witney were two up early in the second half. Andy Slaymaker pulled a goal back for City but Witney extended it to 3-1 before Andrew McNamara grabbed City's second.

A fourth goal put Witney in control but City's Alex Cock scored from a rebound at a short corner.

With two minutes to go, Andy Bell equalised from another short corner rebound. Dickon Morris (2), Steve Bates and James Pigott netted for Witney.

Other scores: Oxford Univ 0, Spencer (Wandsworth) 3; S Bucks 3, Bicester 1; Wallingford 5, Gerrards Cross 2; Hawks 2nd 4, Canterbury Pilgrims 5; Banbury 2nd 6 (J Nunneley 2, A Clark, G Sambrook, H Brooker, T Boardman), City 2nd 1; Rover Oxford 2nd 12, Newbury 2nd 1; Hawks 4th 1 (J Black), M Keynes 4th 1; City 3rd 0, H Wycombe 3rd 3; Trojans Vets 4, Hawks Senators 2; City Bulls 5 (D Galbraith 3, A Bowen, A White), Southampton Vets 2; Phoenix 7, Hawks Fledglings 0; Hawks Falcons 2, Haslemere Vets 1.

Mercian League q-f: SJB Academy U16 3, Ox Hawks U16 2 (T Sobey, C Bennett).

6:28pm Monday 10th March 2008

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