DEPLETED Witney twice held a two-goal lead but had to settle for a high-scoring 4-4 draw at Ashford 2nd in Middlesex Berks, Bucks & Oxon Division 1.

Due to absentees, the Witney men’s team fielded no substitutes.

However, they started strongly.

After ten minutes, Dan Wallis passed with a powerful slap to Rory Heaslip who finished well at the post.

Heaslip then returned the favour when his short corner was neatly fired in by Wallis to make it 2-0.

The pressure increased when Ashford converted a short corner to make it 2-1, despite some great defensive play by Ollie Dulson, Frazer Bernard and Ben Larbalestier.

Ashford then had a one-on-one with keeper Craig Simms, who pulled off one save but could not prevent the follow-up making it 2-2 at the break.

Witney regained the lead when Jacob Deacon coolly rounded the keeper to score.

Then Wallis added his second to double Witney’s lead.

Ashford hit back when the ball deflected off Harry Swift’s stick and looped into the net to make it 4-3.

Another goal from a short corner enabled the hosts to snatch a draw.

Witney Ladies returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory away to West Hampstead in South Clubs’ League Division 3A.

Skipper Katie Gatt gave Witney a first-half lead.

They made it 2-0 when a penalty corner routine resulted in a deflected shot over the keeper by Marie Vincent.

Hampstead scored a consolation goal just before the end – but it was too late to cause Witney any worries.

Other men’s results: Witney 2nd 6 (W Briggs 3, T Wood, M Godwin, T Hobbs), Reading Univ Knights 5th 8; Witney 3rd 4 (Alasdair Anderson 2, D Smith, J Taylor), Wallingford 4th 2.