HOCKEY: OLTON remain mid-table in the Men’s Hockey League Conference West following an exciting 4-4 draw against Portsmouth-based Fareham.
After narrowly losing to Havant last week, Olton were looking to get back to winning form against a patchy Fareham side.
The home side made a positive start when Tom Mallett scored a goal from open play after eight minutes.
Both teams cancelled each other out throughout the next 11 minutes before Fareham equalised from a penalty corner to level the game before half time.
Though neither side looked convincing, ten minutes of ‘goals galore’ followed – and it was Olton that first got on the second half scoresheet.
A midfield deflection from Chris Rawlings setup Martin Ebbage on 42 minutes before Fareham drew level once more just five minutes later.
Olton regained the lead through Tom Mallett – who scored his second goal – before the visitors equalised for a third time just seconds after the re-start.
A penalty stroke gifted Olton the lead once more as Joe Paul scored on 68 minutes.
But the precious lead lasted only a minute before Fareham grabbed their fourth.
Despite late efforts, Olton failed to score a fifth as the game ended in a draw.
Olton next play Cardiff and Met on Sunday for their final league fixture before the long Christmas break.
Ladies
OLTON’S Ladies team bounced back to winning ways in dramatic style against Southampton-based Trojans on Saturday afternoon to keep promotion hopes alive.
Following a poor loss at home the week before, Olton Ladies faced the unbeaten league leaders down south – a daunting and challenging prospect.
The visitors made a poor start when Trojans scored from a penalty corner on five minutes.
But Olton fought back to draw level from a penalty corner 13 minutes later – Kerry Thompson-Moore netting for the first time.
League leaders Trojans justified their position as table toppers when regaining the lead on 23 minutes with a goal from open play to end the opening half with a narrow lead.
Six minutes into the second half, Sally Walton scored a spectacular goal from open play to bring Olton level.
It was 18 minutes later that Jenny Pritchard gave Olton the lead from a corner – and that left the visitors with 11 long minutes to hang on.
The team played out the game’s end to secure a huge three points and record a timely win.
The result cost Trojans the League leadership and saw Olton climb back above last week’s victors Cannock.
Olton are on the road again this weekend with a much shorter trip to Gloucester City.
