Match Reports - Week 28

By Ant Barlow

Saturday 9th April 2011

Junior Challenge Semi Final
Cody Davies scored in the second half to send Minster Lovell Reserves through to the Junior Challenge Cup Final in a 1-0 win over Aston Reserves.

Fred Ford Semi Final
Chad Park’s poor form continued as they fell 3-1 to the hands of Spartan Rangers in the Fred Ford Semi Final. Martin Plumbridge scored for the Chad with Gavin Komanek, Dave Cross and Matt Townsend getting the important goals for the visitors.

Senior Cup Semi Final
Jamie Fisher and Matt Baker scored for Combe in their 2-1 win over Hanborough in the Senior Cup Semi Final after Dan Haggie had netted for Boro’.

Premier Division
Hanborough got over their midweek cup defeat by edging 3 points closer to the Premier Division with a 2-0 win over third placed Ducklington. Richard Rouse and Aston Leach scored the goals.

A Dave Cross brace handed Spartan Rangers a 2-1 win over Hailey completing their successful week. Ryan Pratley hit back for the visitors from the spot but they couldn’t find the leveller.

Mike Duerden scored four goals in Wychwood Forest’s 5-0 win over AC Finstock. The hosts brushed aside Finstock adding to their relegation woes. Finstock currently occupy a relegation spot having played 2 games more than their closest competitors. Richard Proctor got the other for Forest.

Relegation is all but a mathematical certainty for Minster Lovell as they went down 5-1 to Charlbury Town. Matt Smith (2), Tony Bott (2) and Craig McCallum scored the goals that leaves Minster teetering on the verge of the drop. Lamar Rowe’s goal for the hosts proved to be scant consolation.

Kingham AB beat Combe 3-2 in a surprise win which moved the hosts one step closer to safety. Matt Smith scored twice in the win with Gareth Tyack netting the other. James Newman’s strike accompanied an own goal for Combe.

Division One
FC Chequers’ Dan Harwood put his sides promotion fate, back in their own hands after he scored the only goal of the game in Chequers 1-0 win over Chad Park. The 3 points for Chequers puts them in third with a game in hand on their opponents who are now only 2 points above them.

North Leigh A capitalised on Chad Park’s loss in form to go above them into top spot in Division One. However a midweek win over FC Mills was followed by only a point from a surprise 1-1 draw with Hanborough Reserves. Jason Lonsdale scored for the title hopefuls with Scott Akers replying for Boro’.

FC Mills on the other hand picked up 3 points in their relegation battle, with a 3-2 win over Ducklington Reserves. Simon Grove-White scored all three goals consigning Ducklington to the bottom 3.

FC Nomads beat Chipping Norton 1-0 with Steve Bircher scoring for the hosts, while Richard Taylor bagged a brace in Brize Norton’s 2-1 win over Aston. Kevin Alcraft scored for Aston.

Witney Wanderers face a real relegation dog-fight after they were beaten for the 13th time this season. West Witney did the damage running out 5-1 victors. Josh Solomon (2), Dave Cooper, Andy Frost and an Own goal contributed to the score line.

Division Two
Stanton Harcourt picked up a maximum 6 points from their games this week. They followed a 3-2 win over Spartan with a 3-0 win over a fast fading Middle Barton. Jake and George Woodcock along with Tom Gerken scored the goals which mean that Stanton now only need a point to clinch the Division Two title at the first attempt.

Witney Royals, currently in second, are one of only two sides able to catch Stanton and that’s if other results go their way. However, Royals need one win from their last two games to guarantee promotion themselves after a 2-1 win over Southrop. Alex Vaughan and Steve Brasier got on the score sheet. Richard Moore replied for the hosts.

Despite currently laying in 7th place, Two Rivers are still able to join Royals and Stanton at the top of the table due to having 3 games in hand. Rivers most recent 3 points came courtesy of a 2-1 win over Wootton. Pawel Kulczyk and Leigh Butler got the goals.

Charlbury Town drew 0-0 with Milton. Each side picking up a point. However, Milton would have liked all three as they now sit on the edge of the drop zone having played more games than their nearest rivals.

Spartan Rangers Reserves are still in dire need of points at the bottom of Division Two as they lost 3-0 Brize Norton Reserves. Liam O’Brian scored two including a screamer from outside the area. Chris King also added to the score line which now leaves Spartan 5 points adrift at the bottom but with two games in hand.

Division Three
West Witney Reserves who currently lead Division Three completed their season with indifferent form. They went down 1-0 to fellow title hopefuls FC Chequers in what could be a crucial result. Dave Webb scored the only goal of the game in the week. However, they bounced back with a 3-0 win over North Leigh B in their final game. Alex Stubbs, Jamie Goodwin and Carl Roberts scored the goals. West Witney have set a total of 45 points for chasers Freeland and Chequers to beat, but with games in hand for both sides, the current leaders could finish outside the promotion positions.

Freeland look set to at least gain promotion with a handful of games still to play. However, they lost points after only drawing 2-2 with Minster Lovell Reserves. The hosts took a 2-0 lead through Ed Dunne and Stephen Burke, but were pinned back in the second half as George Wagerfield and Adrian Williams brought parity to the score line.

FC Chequers Reserves seem to have put their early season jitters behind with a well-timed push to the finish line. After beating the leaders in the week, they followed up with a 3-1 win over Eynsham SSC who, until the weekend, were also hopeful of promotion. Ben Davies scored twice in the win with Adam Izzard adding.

With little but pride and mid-table mediocrity to play for, Chipping Norton Town Reserves hosted Witney Royals A. However, Royals left with a 1-0 victory after a Colin Morris thunderbolt from 35 yards.

Aston Reserves edged a little closer to safety after beating Kingham Reserves 5-1. Tim Green, Simon Isherwood, Steve Evans, and Martin Limmer all got on the score sheet. Shaun Collins replied in vain for Kingham.

FC Mills Reserves have been put out of their misery after an awful season. They were officially relegated after going down 1-0 to Tackley; potentially the only team they could catch. Ryan Wearing’s strike ensured Mills will be playing Division Four football next season.

Division Four
‘Pumas Pounce on Title’
Carterton Pumas claimed the first trophy of the season after winning the Division Four crown. Puma’s can not be caught and still have two games in hand to complete their season. The title winning result was a 2-0 win over Freeland B. Kyle Drummond and Dean Matthews netted the all-important goals.

The promotion momentum swung back in favour of FC Hollybush as they took all three points from a 1-0 match against AFC Marlborough despite having a player sent off. Marlborough, who currently lie in second are 2 points clear of Hollybush who crucially have a game in hand. Dam Smith scored the decider as the hosts held on for the win.

Spartan Rangers A went down 3-1 to Wychwood Forest Reserves. Dave Anstee, Matt Herbert and Adam Harris scored for Wychwood with Liam Whitcombe replying for the hosts.

Ducklington B consigned Combe Reserves to a 5-0 defeat. Brad Olive, Dave Baker, Jason Hirschfield, Aidan Foard and Ben Jackson all shared the limelight with a goal each.

Where next?

Match Reports - Week 29 Saturday 16th April 2011
Match Reports - Week 27 Saturday 2nd April 2011

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