HOCKEY: WINNINGTON Park Men's 1st XI fell to only their second defeat of the year against third-placed Lytham St Anne's on Saturday.

Lytham started strongly, putting Park under pressure, but the visitors weathered the storm with their young midfield line-up of Andrew Charlton, Andrew Jackson and Steve Campagnaro looking assured and the visitors continually threatened Lytham with swift counter-attacking hockey.

Dave Hunt impressed on his return to the side and won the penalty corner which led to the opening goal. After bursting through the Lytham defence into the circle, Hunt was prevented from a strike by a crude challenge. From the resulting corner, Mark Leigh received the ball and feigned for a drag-flick shot which fooled the goal-keeper before drilling the ball low into the corner to give Park the lead.

Lytham quickly recovered and continued to press, eventually being rewarded with a scrappy goal just before the interval. In the second half, John Paul Dodd's goal was breached again, firstly from the penalty spot and then from open play. Had it not been for Dodd's superb show, Lytham's dominance may have led to more goals.

Winnington Park 2nd 2 Oxton 4th 1: With five games to go, the race for the Division Five South title is wide open with Winnington tied with three other teams on 34 points after they beat struggling Oxton at Sir John Deane's.

Simon Pinson put Park ahead in the second half, flicking the ball into the roof of the net from a penalty corner. Captain Karl Kueres made it 2-0, guiding the ball in from the near post after a cross from Peter Huggon.

Oxton pulled one back from a penalty and, though the match was evenly fought, Park never looked like conceding.

Winnington Park 3rds 5 Neston South Wirral 5th 1: Winnington's third team cruised into a 4-0 lead and had the game all but wrapped up before half time. Tony Taig scored Park's first from a well-worked penalty corner routine, before Rick Evans scored his first goal in senior hockey to double the lead.

Rick Jagielka bagged a hat trick to complete what was turning into something of a rout as Park secured their fourth win in five games.

Saturday: The 1st XI entertain Wigan 1sts at Sir John Deane's College at 2.10pm; The 2nd XI face a tricky encounter at local rivals Knutsford at 2.15pm at Knutsford High School. Park 3rds are away to Triton 3rd XI.