Haslemere Hockey Club’s men’s first team fell to a 3-2 defeat against Oxford Hawks in a tightly-contested match.

In a highly-anticipated match, Haslemere started on the front foot – dominating possession and territory to effectively execute their newly-devised game plan.

Haslemere’s early momentum culminated in a superbly-orchestrated move down the left flank.

Jacob Hall and Marco Van Raatle combined seamlessly, leading to a precise delivery from Van Raatle to Powell – who slotted home expertly to give Haslemere the lead.

Despite Haslemere’s early dominance, Oxford Hawks gradually found their rhythm to gain a foothold in the match and exploit the cracks in Haslemere’s defence.

Just before half-time, an equaliser from a well-executed drag flick gave Oxford a much-needed boost.

Haslemere struggled to regain their early momentum at the start of the second half, although they managed to create several scoring opportunities – but failed to convert them.

Oxford Hawks then clinically capitalised on a chance to edge 2-1 ahead.

Undeterred, Haslemere rallied once again and persistently pressed forward until they found their breakthrough. Johnny Thompson’s fine play paved the way for Van Raatle’s precise pass to a more advanced Alex Knight, who coolly finished to level the scores at 2-2.

With the game hanging in the balance, it was the resilient Oxford Hawks who capitalised on a momentary lapse in Haslemere’s concentration.

A brief defensive lapse left an opponent unmarked in the D, who swiftly deflected the ball into the top corner to secure a 3-2 victory for Oxford.