Oxted faced local rivals Bromley and Beckenham at Oxted School on Sunday.

Oxted came out 3-2 victors in a game that could have gone either way.

A combination of good fortune and well taken chances meant that Oxted continue to climb the table while Bromley and Beckenham must continue to battle for survival.

Oxted started brightly, keeping the ball well but could create no clear cut chances in front of goal. Bromley looked the most likely to score first when they were awarded the first penalty corner of the game. Player coach Mike Hughes' drag flick rattled the crossbar. The ball bounced out and was cleared well by the O's defence.

On 23 minutes Oxted took the lead after a well worked ten pass move. A play that was started in midfield by veteran Craig Carolan was transferred twice across midfield before finding Lorne Barnard on the bass line. Barnard picked out Andrew Baggs who finished well, flicking the ball past the outstretched goalkeeper.

Before half time Bromley and Beckenham's Nick Bluett was sin binned for a deliberate foot. Oxted were unable to take advantage of the overload and the score remained 1-0 at the interval.

The away side came out fighting. Hod saves from Duncan Holmes in goal kept Oxted in front. Defences were proving impenetrable before Bromley were awarded their second penalty corner of the game on 45 minutes. Hughes fired the ball into the left of the goal to level the scores.

The Kent side now had renewed momentum and Oxted had to battle to stay on top of the game. A fantastic individual goal by South African Dalan Phillips put Bromley in front and gave the defending league champions even more to do in order to take 3 points.

Oxted responded immediately. Within a minute the scores were again level. Richard Arscott mesmerized the opposition with a trademark wobble down the right flank before dinking the ball past the keeper and smashing a reverse stick shot into the backboards.

Bromley and Beckenham went all out for the three points, throwing men forward. Oxted exposed the holes left in Bromley defence by winning their first short corner of the game. Justin King's low effort was well saved by the goalkeeper.

Minutes later returning substitute Baggs was set free by a weighted pass from Seb Jones. Baggs smashed the ball across the D from the right. Once again it was the in form Ian Andersen that was on the end of it, finishing with a neat touch through his legs.

Bromley still had chances to level the game. As the minutes ticked away Duncan Holmes saved another well flicked short corner. As the final whistle went Oxted took the three points and climbed to fourth in the table.