BICESTER failed to finish the first half of the Men’s South League season on a high as they lost 4-2 at Witney on Saturday.

The hosts made a flying start to the Middlesex, Berks Bucks & Oxon clash going two goals up in the first ten minutes through Andy Gosnell and Rory Heaslip.

Bicester should have pulled one back from a short corner when Dave Sutcliffe missed narrowly, but he made up for this from another short corner soon after to make it 2-1.

Witney pressed home their advantage and another fierce short corner from Heaslip beat Nathan Elliott in the Bicester goal before Jacob Deacon made it 4-1.

Bicester got one goal back before the interval when Ben Kirk rifled home a short corner but that was the end of the scoring.

After the break, both goalkeepers made some excellent saves.

Goals from Dave Hinchliff and Nick Bell ensured Bicester 2nd ended the year on a high with a 2-0 victory at home to fellow strugglers Witney 2nd.

The result pushes Bicester towards the comfort of mid-table in MBBO Division 4.

The hosts took the lead yen minutes after the break, when Trevor Joseph, playing his last game for Bicester, delivered a pinpoint cross for the predatory Hinchliffe to tuck home his second goal of the season.

Five minutes from time Witney’s hopes of snatching a draw were ended, when a superbly worked penalty corner routine was finished by Nick Bell crashing home a piledriver of a shot.

Bicester Ladies lost 3-1 to Sonning 2nd in the Trysports League Premier 1.

Unable to capitalise on the previous week’s victory, Bicester trailed 2-0 at half-time and Sonning increased to 3-0 early in the second half.

Bicester clawed a goal back through Hannah Newell, but they were unable to break through again.