MBBO REGIONAL LEAGUE Eastcote 5 Rover Oxford 2
EASTCOTE warmed up for this weekend's top-of-the-table clash with PHC Chiswick with a far-from-convincing win against Rover Oxford.
A sluggish start saw the Boars go a goal down early after Adam Mulholland put through his own net. However, he made amends with a drag flick, before Chris Wardale gave the home side the lead with a close-range effort.
Devon Hall and Peter Thomas kept out a short-corner siege, but David Cooper's double sent them in 4-2 up at the break.
Alex Stobbart added another after the interval to wrap up a 5-2 victory. Chris Sleeman starred.
The seconds went down 2-1 to Ramgarhia, despite Richard Wilmott's effort.
The thirds drew against Slough, while there were wins for the fifths, Gino Green grabbing a hat-trick, and sixths. Alan McNair hit a rare goal in a 1-0 win at Ashford for the eighths, while Lloyd Wood's treble helped the past masters to a 6-1 win over Southgate.
Elsewhere, the ladies were edged out by the odd goal in seven at home to Trojans.
Emily Reed's straight strike from a corner, a fantastic individual goal from Liz Walker and a third from Brunel student Lucy Todd put them out of sight, only to suffer a second-half collapse.
Elsewhere, the seconds continued their unbeaten run with a 3-2 win over Ashford, while the thirds went down 5-1 to league leaders Chiswick. The fourths lost 3-0, but the fifths won 4-0, despite having only 10 players.
In Colts action, the U18 boys won 2-0 at Banbury in the England Hockey Plate, two first-half goals from Pete Reilly, after a great run by Chris Sleeman, and a cool Alex Stobbart finish proved the difference.
George Wright made some vital saves on his return from injury.
