Globe Sport
HOCKEY: Oxton three points richer after 'scrappy' game against Brooklands
12:20pm Monday 20th February 2012
OXTON Hockey Club men's first team hosted Brooklands Second XI in the Northern Counties Premier Division, and two first half goals were enough for the Wirral team to take all three points in a scrappy game.
doubling the lead with a powerful straight strike off another penalty corner.
Although Oxton enjoyed plenty of possession the decision making in and around Brooklands area was poor and several chances went begging, whilst the nearest Brooklands came to scoring was also via penalty corners, however goalkeeper Olly Green and his defence were able to keep their best efforts out.
The second half was as disjointed as the first and although Oxton dominated the possession they were unable to extend their lead, despite the numerous opportunities which the team carved out.
Greg Vickers marshalled the midfield well again to ensure Brooklands were unable to fight their way back into the game and when the full time whistle was blown the home team were satisfied with another win and their third clean sheet of the season.
Despite the victory, Oxton remain seventh in the league although they now have a healthy eight point gap over bottom-placed Brooklands.
Oxton now face two tricky away trips next weekend, on Saturday to Yorkshire where they play Ben Rhydding and then a rearranged fixture on Sunday against Formby.
A double-header weekend gave Neston South Wirral mixed fortunes as they picked up a vital 4-3 win over Wrexham on Saturday, before suffering a 3-2 loss at Northern in Sunday's rearranged game – writes Greg Brooker.
On Saturday, Mark Donnelly gave Neston a perfect start, when he diverted Barry Roberts' pin point cross into the Wrexham goal early on.
Wrexham hit back through Phil Wilkinson's reverse stick effort and it was all square at the break.
Both sides battled hard after the interval, and Pete Evans put the Welshmen ahead from close range.
Matt Siggins levelled for the Parkgate side with ten minutes left on the clock, and in a rousing finale, Aled Jarvis and Lawrence McNeight made it 4-2.
Nothing has come easy for Neston this season though, and Wilkinson's late penalty led to a nervy finish, but Neston hung on for a deserved win.
Sunday's trip to Northern actually saw an even better Neston performance, but they fell behind to two counter attacking goals from Tony Fryers and Adam Batty.
With Northern happy to soak up Neston pressure, the visitors enjoyed long periods of possession but couldn't find the final pass to open up the home defence.
In the second half, it was all Neston, however Jordi Sanders extended Northern's lead from a penalty corner.
Jason Long reduced the deficit from a corner rebound, and Neston laid siege to the home goal in the final quarter.
Matt Siggins flicked in Neston's second, and in the final seconds McNeight almost grabbed an equaliser when he slid in to deflect Fergal Horwood's pass.
This Saturday, Neston face a real test when they travel to unbeaten South Cheshire in North Division Two.