Victory for Oxton Hockey Club men's team (From Wirral Globe)

Victory for Oxton Hockey Club men's team

3:43pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Sport

OXTON Hockey Club men's first team travelled to high scoring City of York looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season, in the Northern Premier Division on Saturday, writes Matthew Couttie.

While the hosts started brighter and found space through the middle of the Oxton defence, it was the visitors who opened the scoring, through a well worked move down the left which was converted by George Wilkinson, who slotted the ball past the York keeper for his first Oxton goal.

If Oxton thought that a goal was going to swing the balance of the game in their favour they were mistaken as York hit straight back to level the game one apiece.

It was York who controlled the remainder of the first half, Oxton keeper and coach Lee Ible was rarely troubled.

Oxton had a good chance to go 2-1 up before half time through Ali Parkes, but his shot from the top of the circle was well saved by the York keeper.

After a good talking to at half time Oxton began the second half with improved care and increased determination in their forward running.

Man of the match Adam Flett began to open the York defence up with his pin point passes from the back.

It was one of these passes which created Oxton's second goal; Flett picked out forward Trevor Merrick with space to run at the York goal. Merrick drove towards the circle and found player of last season Greg Vickers at the back post to put Oxton 2-1 up.

With the game entering the final few minutes York threw men forward and started to put pressure on the Oxton defence for the first time in the half.

York managed to win a short corner at the final whistle; the Oxton defence knew they needed one last defensive effort to secure three points and their 100 per cent record.

The initial shot from the corner was well saved by Lee Ible, and Gordon Moore was on hand to clear the ball out of the circle to the delight of the Oxton team.

Oxton now sit two points clear at the top of the Northern Premier Division and look forward to hosting Merseyside rivals Formby next Saturday at Caldy.

Other Oxton Hockey Club results:

Oxton Hockey Club Men's 2nd Team - 3, Didsbury Northern Men's 2nd Team - 1; Oxton Hockey Club Men's 3rd Team - 1, Sale Men's 1st Team - 4; Oxton Hockey Club Men's 4th Team - 1, Neston Men's 4th Team - 1; Oxton Hockey Club Men's 5th Team - 1, Liverpool Sefton Men's 3rd Team - 3; Oxton Hockey Club Men's 6th Team - 1, Bebington Men's 5th Team - 4; Oxton Hockey Club Men's 7th Team - 2, Deeside Rambler's Men's 7th Team - 0; Oxton Hockey Club Women's 1st Team - 3, Northop Hall Ladies 1st Team - 1; Oxton Hockey Club Women's 2nd Team - 1, Buckley Ladies 1st Team - 2; Oxton Hockey Club Women's 3rd Team 1 - Lymm Ladies 3rd Team - 11.