Leighton Buzzard 1s vs Oxford Hawkes 4s

Leighton took their league campaign back on the road this week, with a trip to Oxford, in what ended in a fair but frustrating draw for both sides.

Leighton started brightly from the push back and were soon pressuring the Hawks D. A turn over in possession by Dan Edwards on the right of the pitch enabled Edwards and Mortage Advice Bureau Man of the Match Nick Marshall to work the ball down the flank, with Marshall crossing the ball into the D which narrowly missed Sam Gales stick. The home side showed their class and slick hockey skills and caught the Leighton defence off guard forcing Buzzard's keeper Alex White to make a strong save to his right. The best chance of the half fell to the Buzzards when Mark Stephenson found Clive Warncken at the top of the D, whose first time shot rattled off the cross bar but landed at the feet of David Fry. Fry's rebound was picked out of the air by a Hawks defender on the line and guided around the post.

The second half did not start well for the guests when Leighton skipper, Jack Gorton, was taken off with a nasty and deep cut above his knee while making a brave tackle to prevent an Oxford shot. While Leighton were adjusting to the re-arranged formation, the Hawks struck and put themselves on the score sheet, hitting a hard strike past White in the Leighton goal. Leighton dug deep defensively and kept the home side from doubling their lead but struggled to make any real chances at the other end of the pitch. With ten minutes left on the clock Leighton were awarded a hit outside the Oxford D. An aerial pass from Marshall to Warncken allowed him to thread the ball through to Stephenson on the base line. Stephenson was then able to find an unmarked Leighton player in the form of Tommi Lakins who played the ball into the net to but Leighton back into the game. This goal gave Buzzards a new sense of purpose and with the clock ticking away they pushed for the winner. Unfortunately the hard work of Tristan Hardy up front was not enough to to give Leighton all three points.

A disappointing result for both teams with each feeling they could have taken all of the spoils.

Next weekend LBHC Men's first team host Walkingford at Vandyke.

Written by Nick Marshall