Witney & District Football Reports - Week 17

Hollybush hold on to hopes of trophy defence

Fred Ford
FC Hollybush won through their quarter final battle vs Bourton Rovers to continue their challenge of defending their Fred Ford crown from last season.

Despite their opponents being 13 league places below them, Bourton fought hard to keep the hosts honest as Adam Webley got on the scoresheet for Bourton.

But Hollybush marched onto the semi-finals thanks to goals from Bradley Bryant and Carl Austin to end the tie within 90 minutes with the 2-1 victory.

In the other Premier Division vs Division One battle it was another 2-1 victory for the Premier Division side as Hailey overcame Combe. Perry Tinson scored from the spot and Jack Wood added a second for the hosts. Combe responded through Sammy Hart but it wasn’t to be for the lower league outfit and Hailey join FC Hollybush and Stonesfield in the hat for the semi-finals. Kirtlington face Carterton Rangers next week to fill the last spot in the draw.

Watt’s Junior Cup
There were only two competitive fixtures in the first round of the Watts Junior Cup first round due to two walkover victories in half of the scheduled fixtures. Moreton Rangers and Middle Barton were both fortuitous to advance without kicking a ball as Corinthians and Siege FC respectively forfeited their games.

In the on pitch action, Charlbury Town Reserves won the all Division Two battle against Brize Norton FC. Gary Jones and Damian Corbin scored one each for Town, Steve Marshall responded for Brize but Charlbury advanced courtesy of the 2-1 victory.

A John Ayres double ensured that Eynsham SSC avoided a potential upset as they stormed to a 5-2 victory over Witney Wanderers. Stephen Chappel, Andy Stratford and a Jason Blackman penalty put five on the board for the Division One outfit. Telmo Fernandez and Omar Semlali replied for Division Two’s Wanderers but it wasn’t to be.

Premier Division
Josh Hunt’s double for Charlbury Town was enough to avoid defeat and kept the Premier Division league leaders unbeaten in the league this season as they drew 2-2 against Minster Lovell. Johnny Fletcher and James Hector replied for Minster to take home a hard earned point and jump back into fifth place.
Aston missed the chance to go top after they also dropped points in their visit to Tower Hill. A rare 0-0 draw saw the points shared after 90 minutes. Aston and Charlbury remain level on points at the top of the league.

In the battle of the bottom half, Carterton Town A beat Spartan Rangers for the second time this season as they took a valuable three points away from home. Tom Williams scored for Spartan but goals from Calum Longman and Sam Cairns took the three points for Town and pushed them into seventh place.

Division One
Stonesfield extended their lead at the top of Division One with a good away win against in-form Bampton United. Carry and Raffy Rice combined to score three goals between them and another goal from Tim Wyatt put four on the scoresheet for Stonesfield. Jake Pritchard and Conor O’Shea replied for Bampton but it finished 4-2 to the visitors as they pushed five points clear.

Milton continued their good form in 2019 with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Witney Royals. Milton produced four different goal scorers as Rob James, Levi Steele, Jake Taylor and Dan Hooton’s penalty made sure of all three points as Milton jumped into fourth place in the league. Royals remain bottom of the league.

Division Two
There was only one game in Division Two due to Junior Cup fixtures. Ducklington managed to jump into fourth place as they managed to overcome Aston Reserves. Ed Smith and Tom Davies scored one each for visiting Ducklington as they moved up one place in the league. Matt Brown responded for Aston but the defeat leaves the bottom of the league still.

Division Three
James Ingham’s four timer helped Hook Norton return to winning ways in spectacular fashion as they thumped Bourton Rovers Reserves 9-0. Jay Mair popped up with three of his own as Josh Hunt and Conor Davies both scored one each to complete the scoring. Hook Norton remain fourth but their games in hand mean they are definite contenders at the top of the league.

Bletchington Reserves remain level on points with Hook Norton after recording their fourth league win in a row. Luke Sanders and Mason Connelly got on the scoresheet as Bletchington beat Chipping Norton 2-0 and join Hook Norton on 19 points.

Hook Norton and Bletchington both closed the gap to FC Mills above them as Mills fell to a stunning 6-1 reverse against Wootton. Warren Senior scored for promotion chasing Mills but they were put to the sword by doubles from Karl Guschtscha and Lee Spencer. Charlie Dunmall and Michael Steers scored one each as Wootton ran riot in their first game back since the Christmas break.

FC Mills dropping points gave Spartan Rangers Reserves and Carterton Town B an opportunity to put some breathing space between them and the chasing pack and both teams obliged.

Spartan Rangers moved three points clear of Mills by beating second bottom Tower Hill Reserves. Lewis Scott scored for Tower Hill Reserves but Jack Costar and Arrun White replied for Spartan in what could prove to be a huge victory come the end of the season.

Witney Royals Reserves were left with a severe case of déjà vu as they faced Carterton Town B for the second week in a row and the game saw another six goals. Following last week’s 6-0 win, Town continued with their fine form and, remain unbeaten this season in the league still as they won once again. Jake Harding provided a slightly more respectable look to the score line as he got on the scoresheet for Royals but Town scored five of their own through Phil Stannard, Ben Powell, Dave Wanless and Danny Haining (2) to remain five points clear.

Division Four
It was a tough day for the bottom sides this weekend in Division Four as points evaded the current bottom three. In the big game at the bottom Wootton Reserves managed to leapfrog Brize Reserves as they came out on the positive side of a tight five goal thriller. Darren Light and Dawid Sojka scored for Brize but Wootton replied with three of their own from Jacob Cooke, Elliot Higgins and Andrew Wiffen to put a small amount of daylight between them and the bottom three.

They were helped by Spartan Rangers A losing 3-0 to FC Ascott. Marc Abbiss, Brian George and Charlie Vickers goals helped Ascott to all three points and leaves Spartan second bottom.

FC Ascott Rangers remain rooted to the bottom after losing to Chadlington Reserves. Chadlington scored the only goal of the game through Ollie Wellstood as Chadlington jumped into fourth position just three points off top spot and with games in hand.

Stonesfield Reserves lost for the second week in a row in the battle of the top three as they faced off against Milton Reserves. Milton came through as comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Josh Schofield, Martin Kraus and Lewis Reeve-Smith. Milton are third, three points from the top of the table and also have games in hand and a better goal difference than Stonesfield at the top.

Kingham Reserves are now just two points off top spot with one game hand. They defeated Eynsham SSC Reserves 2-1 as they managed to apply significant pressure on the league leaders. Marcus Owsnett scored for the visitors but Liam Barnes and Harley Miller responded for the hosts to take all three points. Kingham also have a better goal difference than Stonesfield as the promotion race has become a lot tighter after this week’s games.