Oxford Hawks Vets 3

Chippenham Vets (Chipwrecks) 2

Chippenham played some stylish hockey in a game which they enjoyed periods of dominance but failed to capitalise on their chances.

Within five minutes of the start, Chippenham's Keith Montgomery put over a penetrating cross from the right and Nick Parfitt swept the ball home at the far post to open their account.

Oxford came straight back and equalised within two minutes with a reverse stick flick from close range which gave Chippenham's goalkeeper, Paul Nicholls no chance.

The Chipwrecks then took charge of the game with Ian Gould and Nick Parfitt making the running from the midfield and it was Mark Dodd, with a firm short corner strike which restored their lead at 1-2.

With ALastair Forbes directing the defensive line and John May sweeping up any loose ball, Oxford rarely threatened other than on the break. As the first half ticked down, the Chipwrecks failed to convert two more short corners and Rick Law, running onto a superb pass from Nick Brown, just pushed his shot wide of the goal, having beaten the advancing Oxford goalkeeper.

The second half started in a similar manner with the Chipwrecks just unable to find that final finish. With twenty minutes gone, Oxford broke quickly from defence, won a long corner and then punished the Chipwrecks for some poor marking as their left winger fired home from an acute angle.

This lifted the home side and as the Chipwrecks tired in the last five minutes, a back pass just a little too short on pace, gifted the ball to the Oxford centre forward who fired home past the Chipwrecks advancing goalkeeper to snatch victory.

P Nicholls (goalkeeper), J Ma, A Forbes, D Scott, D Townsend, N Parfitt, I Gould, R Law, M Dodd, M Grantham, K Montgomery and N Brown.