England Hockey National League Conference West

Oxford Hawks Men's 1st XI. 0

Ashmoor Men's 1st XI. 2

ASHMOOR men's 1st team travelled to the city of dreaming spires to face Oxford Hawks, with the target of doing the double over this well-established National League club.

Ashmoor welcomed back influential player-coach Jack Dinnie but were once again without Ben Tancock & England 16s player Theo Bennett. Sol Bloomfield was also unavailable, but nevertheless, Ashmoor travelled with good depth in their quality squad.

On a blisteringly hot day the team started well and let the ball do the work. An early chance was created when Sam Wakeham picked out Ben Barnett pressing forward, and the England defender's first-time pass was beautifully tucked away by top scorer Rich Fisher to give Ashmoor their lead.

Oxford were well organised and pressed well to create some problems for Ashmoor, but Pallex player of the match Paddy Walton (pictured by Mark Lockett) in goal was unbeatable and pulled off a couple of great reaction saves.

Captain Jamie Bishop almost doubled the lead six minutes into the second quarter, cutting in on the right-hand side he shot powerfully with his reverse stick, but the strike pinged back off the post.

Ashmoor were putting some good moves together and when defender Lewis Hammett wobbled through the Hawks defence and tee-ed up Fisher, Charles Walker looked sure to score on the far post.

Remarkably he connected well with the ball but his effort went up and over the crossbar. Soon after, Walker nearly turned provider with a powerful reverse stick cross but Fisher couldn't quite connect with it on the volley.

Right on the halftime whistle, Ashmoor won their third penalty corner of the game. This time they moved the ball to Fletch Naisbett-Jones, and his goalbound slap was neatly deflected home by Jack Dinnie to make it 2-0 to Ashmoor at the interval.

Hawks had an early penalty corner chance but it went wide, and then in a great team move Lewie Jones linked up with fellow midfielder Ben Andrew. He found forward Walker who in turn passed to Charlie Brownlow. If his reverse stick cross could have been met by Fisher it would have been the goal of the game!

At the other end Oxford had some opportunities but Ashmoor's defence was equal to whatever was thrown at them, a second penalty corner went wide again.

In the final quarter, Ashmoor played some controlled hockey to keep the ball well. A final chance came the way of the home side when they one a last penalty corner along Ashmoor's right baseline. However, Dinnie got out well to block it and the game was over, securing a fourth clean sheet of the season for keeper Walton.

This win moves Ashmoor up to 4th and they will be aiming to make it three wins from three when they host the University of Exeter for a 1pm kick-off on Sunday, March 9.

Ashmoor Women's 1st XI and the Men's 4th XI were not in league action on the weekend, however this Saturday, they resume matches. The women travel to Plymouth Lions, whilst the men's 4s host Chard 3s.

It will be a celebratory match for Ashmoor's women who secured promotion and the Petroc League 2 title without playing on Saturday - their nearest two rivals both suffering losses means the Ashmoor team can't be caught!