BOLTON Hockey Club Ladies failed to replicate the excellent performance of the previous week when they travelled to Birkenhead and went down 2-0 to Oxton.

They quickly found themselves two goals down and their fortunes were hindered when left midfielder Emma Rimmer was carried from the pitch after sustaining a blow to the face. BHC rallied and pushed forward with Charlotte Harrison and Vicky Warburton driving the attack from central midfield.

A goal-bound shot from forward Jenny Cocker was stopped on the line by what appeared to be a deliberate foot from an Oxton defender. Vicky Hirst stepped up to take the resultant penalty flick, but BHC's run of bad luck continued as she placed it wide of the net to the relief of the watching Oxton keeper.

The second half saw BHC dominate possession to take the game straight to the Oxton defence. However, despite numerous short corners and persistent attacking play, they were unable to claw back a goal.

The men's first team continued their good run with a 4-0 win over Macclesfield to take a three point lead at the top of the table.

The second team built on last week's victory, but only after a sensational turnaround at Daten.

In a dramatic finale, they fought back from 4-2 to win 5-4, in an amazing final eight minutes.

Chris Dean buried his short corner strike through the legs of the Daten keeper, but they trailed by a goal at half-time.

Youngster Rob Davies levelled the scores before Daten went two goal ahead.

BHC staged a remarkable comeback, however, and took advantage of Daten being reduced to 10 men when Richard Moore finished off a short corner and Dean's strike was turned in nicely from close range by Craig Lee. With only seconds remaining, Dean saw his short corner strike deflect past the helpless goalkeeper.

The fourth team were much too strong for Salford University seconds, winning 8-1.

Peter Sutherland, aged 13, and Keith Stanley each scored two goals with one from Roy Hodgkinson, Carl Philbin, Taff Ahmed and Tom Nelson.

The fifth team continued their excellent start to the season with a 3-2 win at Didsbury Northern to move to the top of the table, with goals by Dave Fox, Matt Tuppen and Dan Tanham.