OLTON & West Warwick Hockey Club enjoyed mixed fortunes at the weekend, with the men’s first team winning but a narrow defeat for the ladies team.
The men’s first XI hosted Fareham in Men’s Conference West, edging the contest 2-1 to keep alive their hopes of topping the division.
Hosts Olton set out the traps and dominated the opening twenty minutes, but it was clear that both defences were holding their own.
The scores remained goal-less at half-time, until twelve minutes into the second-half when a penalty corner was dispatched by Fareham.
Edwin Waters chased down a loose cause and, firing at goal, found the net from the tightest of angles to level five minutes later.
A number of chances came and went for both sides, but the game was not decided until the final minute, when Oli Ward’s hit from outside the 22-metre line was deflected past the keeper by the stick of Tom Mallett to win it.
The men’s first XI next travel to Cardiff & Met on Sunday (12:30pm) at the Welsh National Stadium in the final away game of the regular season.
Meanwhile, the ladies first XI lost out a 3-2 thriller away to Reading in the Investec Ladies Conference West.
It was Olton who opened the scoring through Sally Walton, who fired home a 30th minute penalty corner strike to put her side ahead at the break.
But six minutes into the second-half, Reading equalised, only for Laura Collins to net from another penalty corner to make it 2-1 to Olton.
A second open play goal from the hosts levelled the tie, followed by a quick-fire third to take the lead for the first time.
Unable to take any further chances, Olton had to settle for a loss, but hope to get back on track when hosting Swansea on Saturday (12pm).
