Loxwood bounce back with Oakwood victory

Going into the game on the back of Saturday’s narrow defeat to Broadbridge Heath, conceding a goal in the second minute was hardly what was needed - Toby Rivers drilling home after a deep free kick had been partially cleared.

But quality goals from Matt Hoyte, Mark Cave, Shaun Findlay and Andre Elkana secured a 4-1 win and moved the Magpies up to sixth in Division Two.

Boss Dave Cocoracchio said: “The game was on the back of a disappointing result when we thought we should have won the game so it was important we bounced back with the right attitude and put that right.

“It was an awful start conceding with almost their first attack but the most important thing was our reaction to that. We’ve been a bit unlucky so far this season, every mistake seems to have been punished but last night we played some fantastic football and created a number of opportunities.”

Having gone behind early Loxwood struck a post, while striker Dean Wright missed two clear chances with only the keeper to beat.

They did however get on level terms when Findlay went on a great run down the wing before pulling the ball back for Hoyte to fire home for 1-1 at the half-time break.

Visiting Oakwood enjoyed a strong start to the second half but the Magpies weathered the storm and went ahead with a super goal, Cave blasting in on the volley straight from a corner.

And just two minutes later Findlay scored the goal his overall play deserved when he beat three players in a driving run before cutting into the box and firing a shot into the far corner.

The three points were sealed in the 73th minutes when Elkana went on a mazy run from left back, and despite being fouled picked himself up to continued his solo dart into the box, where he drew and then chipped the keeper to make it 4-1.

Loxwood have made no secret of their desire to go for the league title after a number of new additions and Cocoracchio said he was satisfied with his perennial slow-starting side.

“Every year we start slowly, last year we took only six points from the first 30 but we’ve played some exciting football and probably deserved better,” he said. “The positive thing is we’ve got some fantastically talented footballers in this football team and it’s not been a bad start, we’re sixth having played some good sides. What we need to do now is put a string of results together.”

Loxwood: Coles; Elkana, Swaine, French, Holvey (Awcock 75); Scally, Hoyte, Findlay, Martin; Wright (Lyons 63), Cave.