Oates fires Kings to late success (From Halesowen News)

Oates fires Kings to late success

1:00pm Friday 5th October 2012 in Local Sport

GARY Oates scored a late winner as Kingswinford HC got their season off to a winning start at Stafford.

In their first ENER-G League West Midlands Division One fixture, Kings had to soak up pressure from the hosts in the opening 10 minutes.

After finding their rhythm, Cole Hickman gave the visitors the lead following a neat exchange with Billy Jawanda.

Mark Wilson then fired home from a penalty corner to give Kings a 2-0 lead at the break.

But the hosts hit back after the restart, scoring two quick goals to level things up and a draw looked the most likely outcome until Oates let fly with five minutes to go and his shot ricocheted off a defender’s stick to deceive the keeper.

The seconds claimed a 2-1 win at home to Ludlow.

Daman Johal, Jassi Bhadal and Surjit Takhar all went close to opening the scoring for Kings early on.

But they were continually frustrated and it was Ludlow who eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes before the break.

Takhar fired the hosts level after bringing down an aerial pass from Sonny Matharu.

Kings poured forward in the second-half, though their efforts looked like being in vain, particularly when Johal was denied by a brilliant save from the visiting keeper.

But veteran Ginge Sembi proved the hero as he scored from a short corner five minutes from time to secure three points.

The thirds had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Wednesbury.

Despite taking a two goal lead thanks to strikes from Richard Turner and Edward Martin, Kings conceded twice in the second half of an enthralling encounter.