HOCKEY: Hawks go clear at the top

Hawks, who go two points clear at the top, produced some penetrating runs into the Ashford D, the pressure resulting in three goals in the first 15 minutes from short corners.

Nick Ferraby scored with two identical flicks, and the third goal was hammered in by Charlie Ellison after the keeper saved the initial shot.

The home side pulled one back before half-time, and in the second half the game became scrappy, Hawks having two players sin-binned, and Ashford one.

Quick play down the right and a well-struck cross resulted in a far-post tap-in for Tom Coppin to complete the scoring.

Premier Division 1 side Banbury were unable to build on their first win, against Maidstone last week, as they lost a thriller 4-3 at Teddington.

Chris Boyle, in the Banbury goal, had the measure of ex-England international Calum Giles’s corner flicks and made a number of key saves.

Banbury conceded an early scrappy goal, but David Clark’s strike brought Banbury level before the break.

In the second half, Banbury took the lead when a penalty corner was well converted by Robin Parker in a training ground move.

But with 15 minutes to go, a shot was cleared illegally by captain Tom Slay, resulting in a penalty, that Giles converted, and his suspension.

A mistimed tackle by Adrian Simons left Banbury with nine men, and Teddington capitalised with two goals.

Simon Boardman was able to grab a goal with just seconds to go, but it was too little too late.

Oxford University fell to their sixth straight defeat, losing 3-1 at home to Milton Key-nes despite Alex Evans’s goal.

Tim Hardy notched his second hat-trick of the season in Witney’s 7-1 Division 1 victory at Amersham & Chalfont.

Justin Peel (2), Thomas Allinson, and the experienced Julian Easterbrook, with a fine solo goal, were also on target.

Bicester stay unbeaten in Division 2 after beating Wycombe 3rd 3-2. CJ Birtles, Harry Gaunt and Wayne Dobbins got their goals.