Witney & District Football Reports - Week 4

Fred Ford Cup - 1st Round
It was an all Division Three affair in the first batch of Fred Ford games this weekend with both home sides progressing. Ducklington saw off FC Mills with goals from Charlie Fisher (2) and Dan Stanley with Dan Bilton grabbing Mills’ reply. While Siege FC despatched Corinthians with a goal apiece from Kev Lewis and Andy Makepiece. Jake Woodcock pulled one back for the visitors.

Premier Division
Little has changed at the top of the Premier Division as the top 3 sides all won. FC Hollybush remain in first place after their 3-1 win over Carterton Town A. Hollybush new boy Michael Duerden scored on his debut to haunt his former side. Jacob Hughes and Dan Bishop weighed in with the others as Martin Watroba and Ben Liddle replied.

A brace from Warwick Thompkins secured all three points for second placed Charlbury in their 2-1 win over Kirtlington. Antony Brooker netting for Kirtlington.

Chipping Norton Town narrowly beat Spartan Rangers 3-2 with Andrew McCabe (2) and Nathan Bott finding the back of the net for the home side. Goals from Alfie Saunders and Jon Clarke were not quite enough for the visitors.

Hanborough finally got their season underway with a 4-1 win over Combe. Doubles from Joy Burgess and Ian Steele settled the tie with Ethan Penney scoring the consolation for Combe.

Hard-working Hailey picked up their first three points of the season with a 2-0 win over Minster Lovell. Luke Manning and Connor Beveridge both got on the score sheet.

Division One
A brace from Lee Beer saw Aston move to the top of Division One after their 2-0 win over Chadlington.

Tower Hill are level on points at the top despite going down 5-4 to close rivals Tower Hill Stars. Luke Harris (2), Jack Holifield and Leigh Smith all scored for Tower Hill in what was a full blooded match, however a Tremayne Bartlett hat-trick and further goals from Kevin Davies and Michael Pratley edged the tie TH Stars’ favour.

FC Nomads raced to a 2-0 lead against visiting Stonesfield only to end up on the wrong end of a 7-3 score line. Chris Laurence, Dave Pryse and Jordan Thomas scored for the hosts, but a Raffy Rice hat-trick accompanied goals from Carry Rice (2), Jack Baker and Mike Phipps to complete the rout for Stonesfield.

Witney Royals had their first taste of defeat this season, going down 5-2 to Eynsham in an otherwise fairly contested match. Dave Cross scored twice for the hosts but goals from John Ayres (2), Ralph Rankin, Jason Blackman and Stephen Chappel secured the win for the visitors.

Division Two
Middle Barton remain top of Division Two courtesy of a single Liam Barnes strike in their 1-0 win over Moreton Rangers. Meanwhile, a battling Hailey Reserves went down 3-0 to second placed Charlbury Town Reserves. Bradley Empson, Matthew Boyd and Michael Faulkner all netted.

Bletchington recorded their second three points of the season after a 5-2 win over hosts Aston Reserves. Matt Smith scored twice for Aston however a brace each from Darryl Potter and Mark White accompanied a Todd Parker-Hunt strike to give the visitors a well-earned win.

Brize Norton and Bourton Rovers battled it out for a share of the spoils in their 1-1 draw. Adam Davies scored for Brize, but for the third week in a row, Brize conceded from a penalty, this time despatched by Ben McPhlimey.

Sam Philpott picked up a four-goal haul in Kingham All Blacks’ 7-2 thrashing of Hanborough Reserves. Eddy Webb (2) and Charlie Brooks grabbed the others with Josh Brooks and George Hughes scoring the consolation goals for the visitors.

Josh Walkington (2), Telmo Fernandez and Ben Border were all on target in Witney Wanderers 4-0 win over Spartan Rangers Reserves.

Division Three
FC Hollybush Reserves moved into fourth place after a 4-1 win over Minster Lovell Reserves. Steve Holder (2), Danny Brearley and Alex Stubbs all found the back of the net with Jordan Anderson replying for Minster.

Hosts Combe Reserves went down 4-3 to Bourton Rovers Reserves. Ashley Hilton (2) and Mike Gardener scored for Combe but Bourton shared their four out among Toby Cranham, Ben Burch, Tom Wrenn and Dan O'Driscoll.

Witney Royals Reserves picked up their first three points of the season with a 3-1 win over hosts Milton Reserves. Rhys Woodward, Mikey Piper and an Ollie Nolan screamer gave the visitors a 3-0 lead but they were made to hold on as Milton rallied. However Will Collett’s goal was all they had to show for their efforts.

Division Four
Brize Norton Reserves moved to the top of Division Four after their 5-3 win over Bampton United Reserves. The goals were shared between Leo McLoughlin (2), Paul Morrison, Jason Hirschfield and Lee Litton. Bampton hit back with 3 goals of their own through Steve Newman (2) and Steve Allery.

Kingham go third courtesy of their 6-1 mauling of Spartan Rangers A. Scott Mason scored from the spot for the hosts but they was all they had to show for their efforts as Owen Hunt banged in a hat trick with Adrian Williams (2) and James Quilty adding.

There was a shortage of numbers in the game between Eynsham SSC Reserves and Siege FC Reserves, however no shortage of enjoyment. Eynsham SSC Reserves put out a bare 11 with visiting Siege FC Reserves managing to start only 10. This was further reduced to 10 v 9 throughout the match due to injuries. However, there was no lacking the commitment or effort of the remainder as they played out 90 minutes to a 4-3 score line. Hosts Eynsham held on for the win courtesy of a Jamie Hewitt Hat trick and a Ben Partlett strike. Billy Evans, Sam Thompson and Chris Godfrey hit back for Siege but it was not quite enough.

It was a little easier for FC Ascott Reserves who saw off Wootton Reserves. A brace a piece for Mac Abbiss and Chris Blayney settled the tie.

Stonesfield Reserves beat Chadlington Reserves by the same score line with Shaun Kemp (2), Charlie Auger and Peter Searle all getting on the score sheet.

[Photo: Tony Bull - Bullseye Photography]