JOHN Woods and his skill from penalty corners has been instrumental in Bolton Hockey Club's First XI's recent success but this season he has been more miss than hit, coming up against goalkeepers who have been in superb form.

It seemed that the match away at Winnington Park was going to another blank day, as the home keeper used all parts to keep Woods out.

But with time running out, Woods showed his class with a clinical drag-flick to end his own three-game goal drought, and salvage a point for his team in a 1-1 draw.

In truth, Bolton should not have needed the last second heroics, having dominated the midfield during a physical first half.

However, the efforts of Martin Luke and Peter Flanagan down the right were too often wasted by sloppiness up front.

All the action was in the home half, as Bolton's defence coped without fuss with the sporadic raids of the Winnington forwards. Indeed, the most exciting moments were some crunching tackles drawing harsh words form the umpires.

If it is too easy, slack moments can creep in and while Bolton remained in control after the break, too often there was one touch too many with Way, Williams and almost critically Mathieson getting caught in possession.

As chances came and went for Bolton, they fell to a classic counter punch -- neat break, quick passing and a sublime finish, which gave keeper Paul Neville no chance.

Neville and Tobutt managed to combine to repair Winnington's only other two efforts to keep Bolton in the game.

Bolton's final chance came in the last seconds with a penalty corner.

The first effort ended up in the net from Flanagan via Aitken but it was ruled out.

Then up stepped Woods to prove that quality will come through -- eventually.

A RICHARD Moore double gave the Third XI a 2-1 win against Disley.

His first was a clinical strike to open the scoring, after Disley had run out of steam against a solid defence.

Disley did grab an equaliser but Moore got his second with the aid of a wicked deflection, which sent the ball looping over a stranded keeper.

Bolton could have added to the lead from a succession of penalty corners but in the end two goals were enough.

THE Fourth XI battled hard but could not hold a strong Bowdon side, who enjoyed the balance of the decisions in the 4-0 defeat.

Again Mark Howarth showed admirable presence and passion at right back, but not even his efforts to stop the home side's control.

THE Fifth XI enjoyed a better day with a 4-0 away win at Deeside Ramblers, despite a heavy grass pitch. Vined Patel masterminded the performance, and opened the scoring after only five minutes, rounding off a move involving Simon Coles and Roy Hodkinson.

Coles had a superb game, tormenting the home defence. Ros Scarthe smashed home the second, and Hodkinson drove in a rising shot for the third.

Fittingly Patel completed the scoring, finishing a penalty corner move.

THE U16 Badgers lost 4-2 against Bowdon. David Flanagan sublimely opened the scoring dribbling through the defence and around the keeper, in an end to end game.

Bolton then came back from 2-1 down, as Paul Walton cracked home a fine shot.

However tired legs allowed Bowdon to ease away in the final minutes.