Witney & District Football Reports - Week 8

Premier Divison

All eyes on Charlbury after another impressive win

One week on from their thrashing of FC Hollybush, Charlbury were on the charge again after sticking five past top of the table Aston. Tom Williams’ hat trick did the majority of the damage as he was backed up by goals from Craig McCallum and Warwick Tompkins. Reece Wain replied for Aston but a mere consolation in Charlbury’s 5-1 win.

Hollybush bounced back from last week’s disappointment and closed the gap at the top by condemning Spartan Rangers to defeat. The Mays brothers were once again on target with a goal each. One more from Carl Williams ensured that all 3 points went to the home side in their 3-0 victory. Charlbury and Hollybush remain undefeated in the league this season so far.

Kirtlington hosted Hailey in a seven goal thriller and it was the away side who managed to come away with all 3 points. Shane Probitts, Anthony Booker and Ally Broome all scored for the home side but Sean King, Travis O’Connor and a Freddie Buckingham double snatched the points for the away side.

Honours were even at Wash Meadow as Minster hosted Carterton Rangers. The scores were all square at the full time whistle as Sam Wright and Adam Lee cancelled out each other to ensure both sides took a point.

Division One
Sam Hibberd was the pick of the scorers in division one as he scored all four goals for Combe in their away victory over Eynsham. It wasn’t all plain sailing as John Ayres and Zac Sheffield’s brace, for Eynsham, kept the game a tight affair but Combe came through as 4-3 winners.

Witney Royals and Bourton Rovers shared seven goals in exactly the same way and once again it was the away side that succeeded in taking all three points. David Cross and two for Corey Donohoe would have left Royals confident of a first win of the season but Adam Webley scored a brace of his own and one each for Alex Winter and Ben McPhilimey saw all three points go away with Bourton.

In an equally tight match, Chadlington were able to inflict a first defeat on league leaders Moreton Rangers. Chad propelled themselves into second place in the process, as they won 3-2. Dan Moore scored both of Moreton’s goals but Matt Chadwick got two of his own and Ralph Sim scored Chad’s third to leave them two points behind their opponents.
With Moreton defeated, Stonesfield took advantage by beating Bletchington 1-0 and reduced their own deficit to two points. Sam Bodinham scored the only goal of the game to put Stonesfield on seven points and into third place, level on points with Chadlington.

Bampton are the third side on seven points as they defeated Milton 3-0 to keep pace with the chasing pack. Bampton’s goal scorers were Jake Pritchard, Dan Paintin and Connor O’ Shea as they pushed themselves into the top four.

Division Two
Things couldn’t be much tighter in division two as just four points separate the 1st and 9th placed teams. Mitchell Faulkner helped Charlbury Reserves to victory over Siege FC as he slotted home three goals to push Charlbury on to victory. Brennan Marles and Jack Mahoney completed the scoring as it finished 5-0. Charlbury sit on 6 points and in 9th spot but find themselves just a win away from the promotion places in a very close league.

With things being close, league places can change dramatically on a week by week basis and this is certainly the case for Hailey Reserves. Sitting pretty at the top of the league before the weekend’s games, they tumbled to 5th as they lost 4-0 to Kingham. Dan Davies, Ryan Barrass and a Gaz Price double helped Kingham leap above their opponents in the table.

With Hailey losing, there was ample opportunity for other sides to take advantage. Minster Lovell Reserves were the biggest beneficiaries as they jumped to the top after a close 3-2 win over Corinthians. Harry Purfitt and Tom Cattanach had scored for Corinthians but Russell Whitlock, Gary Mitchell and Jack Muttock all scored one each for Minster, to take all three points and top spot in the process.

Witney Wanderers overcame Brize Norton in a close match where one goal was all that was needed. Ben Border was the difference maker as Wanderers elevated themselves to second in the table, just behind Minster Lovell.
Ducklington received a walkover victory after Aston Reserves couldn’t field a side.

Division Three
FC Mills dramatically improved their goal difference as they thumped Witney Royals Reserves 11-2 to keep a tight grip on third place in division three. Aaron French was the key man as he scored five of Mills’ goals. Juao Pavia scored a brace and they were joined on the scoresheet by Dan Hedges, Pete Long, Elliot Major ad Jon Roome. Jamie Kennedy and Joe Dallimore scored for Royals.

Carterton Town B took over top spot once again as they defeated Chipping Norton Town reserves 2-0. Danny Haining and Tyler Webster were on target as they returned back to the top of the league.

Bletchington Reserves hosted Bourton Rovers Reserves and made home advantage count as they emerged victorious. Bourton would have hoped that scoring three goal away from home would have at least got them something from the game as Ryan Newhook and Matt Winter (2) scored for the visitors. Bletchington responded with 5 different goal scorers though as Chris Fennell, Tom Knox, Senan Simmons, Luke Brennan and Jonathon Watts gave Bletchington a 5-3 win.

There were seven goals in the division’s other game as Wootton went one better than Tower Hill Reserves in winning 4-3. Lee Spencer, Karl Ware, Karl Gusctscha and Fraser Scott scored one each for visiting Wootton. Cameron Donohue, Sam Britnell and Josh Luland kept Tower Hill in the game but their efforts proved to be in vain.

Division Four
With no fixture for top of the table Kingham Reserves, it was day for the chasing pack to try and apply some pressure on the leaders.

Stonesfield Reserves managed to join Kingham on 15 points after 5 games, but they were made to work by hard battling Milton Reserves side. The league’s overall top scorer, Dan Hooton, carried on his emphatic start to the season by scoring all four of Milton’s goals but he, and Milton, were eclipsed as Jamie Gardner scored a hat trick and David Holloway got two of his own to give Stonesfield all three points and keep their 100% record.

There wasn’t the same success for third place Chadlington reserves as they fell to a surprising defeat against previously winless Spartan Rangers A. Ellis Godin and Ollie Welstood scored for Chadlington but Spartan earned their first win of the season thanks to goals from Mev Gundem, Matt Townsend and Daniel Jeffrey.

A Chris McNeil hat trick gave Brize Norton Reserves all the impetus they needed to beat FC Ascott. Further goals from Lee Litton and Adam Harris gave Brize a 5-0 win and pushed them into 4th place behind Kingham, Stonesfield and Chadlington.

Bampton United Reserves also kept a clean sheet and scored four of their own as they dispatched Eynsham Reserves. Kieran Colley scored a brace and Steve Allery and Lewis Townsend followed up with a goal each to complete the scoring.

Wootton Reserves received a walkover victory as FC Ascott Rangers couldn’t field a side.