OXFORD Hawks were close to shocking leaders Stourport in their Investec League Conference West clash.

The basement side, who are without a victory this season, were expected to be on the end of a hiding against the table-toppers.

But they put up a tremendous display and came close to snatching an unlikely point, but ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Emily Smith almost put the hosts ahead in the opening half, before Hawks goalkeeper Jess Hughes pulled off a number of saves to keep the scores level at the break.

The leaders, as expected, piled on the pressure after the break and finally made the breakthrough from a counter-attack.

Hawks turned up the pressure in the final 15 minutes, but were unable to fashion an equaliser.

Witney trailed three times against Reading 2nd in South Division 1, but rallied superbly to draw 4-4 – equalising with the final attack of the match.

After going 2-0 behind early on, Millie Hartwell pulled a goal back before Ellie Norton converted from a short corner on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors regained the lead after the break, but once again Witney hit back, striker Hayley Dobson converting from another short corner.

Both sides looked for the winner as the game entered the final ten minutes, but it was Reading who looked set

to secure maximum points when they went ahead once again.

But in the last play, Norton was in the right place to fire home to all but secure her side’s status in the division for next season.

Oxford climbed the Division 2 table after a 3-1 home victory over Epsom.

Olivia Strickland bagged a double before assisting Georgia Verdon for the other as the hosts moved to eighth.

Philippa Morris was on target as Wallingford won 1-0 at Maidenhead 2nd.

The striker found the net early on to seal victory in the Trysports Three Counties League Premier 1 clash.

OTHER RESULTS

West Hampstead 1, Oxford Hawks 2nd 2 (R Abbott, A Brant); Sonning 2nd 2, Oxford Hawks 3rd 0; Oxford Hawks 5th 1 (P Cantwell), Phoenix & Ranelagh Ladies 2nd 1; Reading Rogues 2, Oxford Hawks 6th 2 (L Hiner 2); Bicester 2, Oxford Hawks 7th 1 (D Timson); Newbury & Thatcham 1, Oxford 2nd 1 (K Crook); Amersham & Chalfont 2nd 0, Oxford 3rd 1 (K Litchfield); Oxford 4th 4 (C Hooper 2, Z Driscoll, L Rhydderch), Reading Riots 4; Oxford 5th 1 (L Jakubovick), Wychwood 3; Oxford 6th 0, Sonning 4th 4; Oxford 7th 3 (C Llewelyn 2, E Darnell), Slough 4th 1; Reading Rockets 3, Witney 2nd 3 (H Walker 2, N Macken); Witney 3rd 2 (G Middleton, P Shanks), Harlow-High Wycombe 3; Abingdon 2, Wallingford 2nd 3 (H Merryweather, S Lye, F Rose); Buckingham 3rd 1, Wallingford 3rd 6 (A Lissenden 3, J Porter, J Capon, D Rodriguez); Wallingford 4th 3 (A Clements, C Eatwell, N Bennett), Milton Keynes 3rd 3.