OXFORD Hawks are guaranteed a place in the new Division 1 tier of next year’s revamped English Hockey League after a superb
4-3 comeback victory over Team Bath.
Despite trailing 2-0 in their Men’s Conference West clash, third-placed Hawks hit back to beat their rivals, who went into the game just a place below them in the table.
Daniel Rayney pulled a goal back just before half-time, before Andy Watts levelled early in the second half.
Bath hit back to lead 3-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
But Hawks rallied to level two minutes from time through Matt Wood’s close-range strike.
And they then secured an unlikely victory when Watts fired home a dramatic winner with seconds to go.
The victory means Hawks have already done enough to secure a spot in Division 1 of the new-look EHL next season.
Oxford Hawks 2nd came from behind to beat Oxford OBU 4-3 in a thrilling MBBO Regional Division 1 clash.
After going 1-0 down, title challengers Oxford hit back to take a commanding lead thanks to strikes from Dan Bleach, Sean Cox and Matt McKeown.
But Hawks dug in and took victory with James Lawton-Smith and Sam Mallinson each hitting doubles.
The win sees Hawks now just one point behind their rivals in the table, but having played two games more.
Witney lost 5-2 at home to Marlow.
After falling behind early on, a goal from Harry Harbage drew the hosts level.
But Marlow then took control and although Ben Kirk scored
with a fine strike late on for Witney, the damage had already been done.
Basement boys Wallingford suffered a heavy defeat at second-placed PHC Chiswick.
Although Dan Pilbeam found the net, the high-flying hosts proved too strong and ran out 9-1 winners.
The loss leaves Wallingford six points adrift.
OTHER RESULTS
OMT 2nd 0, Oxford Hawks 3rd 4 (H Jones 2, M Northfield, H Parry); South Berkshire 2nd 4, Oxford Hawks 4th 2 (D Swanepoel 2); Banbury 3rd 6, Oxford Hawks 5th 2 (B Barber, A Sutcliffe); Newbury & Thatcham 4, Oxford Hawks 6th 3; Oxford Hawks 6th 7 (A Laird 4, E Baldock, A Baldock, P Dunleavy), Maidenhead Magicians 1; Oxford 2nd 2 (B Brearey 2), Aylesbury 5; Windsor 4, Oxford 3rd 0; Oxford 4th 2 (J Cowen-Darcy, G Williams), Gerrard’s Cross 4; Leighton Buzzard 2nd 5, Oxford 5th 1 (G Jan James); Newbury & Thatcham 4th 1, Oxford 6th 2 (D Kingsland, T Christophers); Oxford 7th 0, West Hampstead 7th 0; Oxford 8th 3 (J Federson, S Dogar 2), Henley 4th 2; Oxford 9th 1 (S Allen), Amersham & Chalfont 5th 4; Witney 2nd 7 (C Summers 3, S Hook 2, D Robinson, J Deacon), West Hampstead 5th 2; Witney 3rd 5 (A Taylor, J Easterbrook, P Easterbrook, E Easterbrook, R Morgan), Phoenix & Ran 3rd 3; Wallingford 2nd 2 (T Chamberlain, B White), W Hampstead 3rd 2; BA Slough Ramgarhia 9, Wallingford 3rd 3; Wallingford 4th 1 (F Beland), Reading Rov 1; Banbury 5th 1, Wallingford 5th 3.
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