Witney & District Football Reports - Week 3

By john smyth

September 16th 2017

Premier Division

Leaders FC Hollybush, maintained their lead at the top of the Premier Division with a hard fought 2-1 victory over local rivals Spartan Rangers. Neither side was able to play any free flowing football on a pitch that would have been better suited to grazing cattle and it meant chances were limited. Hollybush captain Jack Robinson did superbly well to block a goal bound Louis Pettifer effort, before Kieran Watts put Spartan in front turning in a delicious Alfie Saunders free kick. Spartan keeper Ben Horne, playing against his former sides then made a couple of decent sides to keep his side ahead. But he was unable to keep out a fine 12 yard volley from Craig Mays, who scored his 5th goal of the season. Horne, provided more heroics to keep Spartan level, but again he was powerless to prevent Rory Linford-Pill’s header winning the game with 10 mins to go.

Carterton Rangers newly promoted from Division 1, played their first ever game in the top flight and came away with all 3 points as they defeated Hailey 4-2. Rangers twice took the lead in the first half with goals from Liam Elliott and Dan Hall, but Hailey hit back with a brace from Jack Wood. Carly Shirley added the 3rd in a frantic first period, before Jamie MacDonogh sealed all three points late on.

Chipping Norton earned 3 points in a feisty affair at Minster Lovell that saw 4 players booked and Chippy player-manager Rhys Warner-Carter sent off. Dan Bott and Kieran Watts (2) were on target for the visitors with Sam Wright scoring for Minster.

Combe opened their season with an excellent point over last years runner’s up Charlbury. Matt Baker scored for Combe with Craig McCallum equalising.

Division One

Tower Hill remain at the top of Division 1 after they defeated Bampton 4-2. All the goals were scored in the first half, James Scott bagged a brace to take his tally to 4 for the season, With Lewis Bartlett and Jamie Harris scored in consecutive weeks. Conor O’Shea and Danny Paintin were Bampton’s scorers.

Witney Royals are a point back in 2nd spot as they maintained their 100% record with a 5-1 thumping of Stonesfield. Dan Townsend scored a double to add to goals from Steve Brasier, Jimbob O’Sullivan and Craig Isle. Raffy Rice scored Stonesfield.

Eynsham SSC and Milton shared 6 goals to earn their first points of the campaign. John Ayres, Jason Blackman and Will James scored for Eynsham and Steven Pearce (2) and Charlie Gullis replied.

Chadlington opened their season in impressive style as they defeated Tower Hill Stars 3-1. The young Chadlington side played some excellent football and scored goals form Jarvis Morley and Matt Chadwick (2). Craig Green replied for Stars.

Division Two

Bourton Rovers continue to lead the way at the top of Division 2, but they dropped 2 points as they were held to a 2-2 draw by a battling Aston Res. Ryan Lewis, put Aston in front but goals from veteran Matt Winter and Ben McPhilimey appeared to have earned Bourton the points. However in a last desperate throw of the dice, Aston Manager Dave Hambridge put himseld on up front and he scored an equaliser in added time.#

Middle Barton also have 7 points at the top of the table after defeating Witney Wanderers 2-1. This was a great result for Barton, who played the entire game with 10 men after a couple of late withdrawals. John Umney and Nick Higgs were Barton’s scorers with Ben Border replying.

Charlbury Res made it 2 wins from 2 and ended Brize Norton’s 100 record. The game was settled by a Jack Mahony penalty after Ryan Healing had been bought down.

Bletchington were the days top scorers as they hammered bottom side Hailey Res 9-0. There were hat tricks for Danny Evans and Todd Parker-Hunt, with Jake Godfrey scoring twice and Luke Brennan the other.

Joey Burgess was another man to hit a hat trick as hit Hanborough Res side defeated Spartan Rangers Res 4-0, Herbie Hamilton added Hanborough’s other.

Moreton Ranger opened their season with the short trip to Kingham and came away with all three points after winning by the odd goal in 3. Sam Philpott scored for Kingham with Dave Toon and William Wall grabbing Moreton’s goals.

Division 3

Leaders Ducklington game against Chipping Norton Res was abandoned early in the first half, after Chippy’s Keyth Bonner collapsed and started fitting. Happy to report he appears in good spirits and is making a good recovery. All at the WDFA wish him well.

Siege made it 2 wins out of 2 with an 8-0 thrashing of Witney Royals Res. After scoring 4 for the Res last week, Andy Makepiece did it again, but for the firsts this week. Chris Jones added a rare goal from the penalty spot and Ben Reardon, Connor Harrison and Sam Thompson scored the others.

Corinthians opened their season in emphatic style thumping Combe Res 6-0. There was a hat trick for debutant Cameron West, 2 for sub Gareth Newman and 1 for Harry Davies.

Wootton also their season on Saturday and came back from the long trip to Bourton Res with all three points after a 4-1 win. Lee Spencer also hit a hat trick for Wootton and Karl Guschtsha scored the other. Ben Hughes replied for Bourton who also had a man sent off.

There was added spice to the game between Minster Res and FC Mills as long time Minster player Cody Davies signed for the visitors the day before. He had an eventful game, scoring direct from a corner and also been fouled by David Souch, which lead to the Minster man being dismissed. But it was the home side who had the last laugh as they won 3-1. Gary Mitchell (2) and Josh Hartley scored for them.

A solitary goal from Tricky Williams was enough for Hollybush to defeat Milton Res. But the game was overshadowed by an incident involving Milton’s Mark Hamilton, the former Hollybush player was knocked out and swallowed his tongue. Again I believe he is okay now and once again we all wish him well.

Division 4

Bletchington Res are the early leaders in Division 4 as their young side defeated Bampton Res 3-2 to keep up their 100% start. Fraser Prince, Mason Connelly and Chris Fennell scored for Bletch with Chris Angus and Lewis Townsend replying.

Woottton Res are enough side who are 2 for 2 so far. The defeated Spartan Rangers A 3-1. Jacob Cooke, Tom Todd and Elliott Higgins scored for Wootton with the evergreen Mickey Hole scoring his first goal in his second spell for Spartan.

Brize Norton Res are up to third place after they beat Kingham Res 3-2. Jason Hirschfield, Leo McLoughlin and sub Scott Peaper scored for Brize, with Adrian Williams and Tom Matthews replying.

After a nightmare first game of the season Eynsham SSC Res bounced back to defeat Ascott Rangers 5-2. Stephen Chappell was another hat trick hero, with Jamie Hewitt and Ben Partlett getting the others. Ascott are still left chasing their first point in the league and Marshall Balmer scored both their goals.

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