Cup Reports - Week 7

Semi-final line ups confirmed as last fixtures play out to dramatic conclusion.

Ted Young Senior Cup - Group 1
A winner takes all battle ensued at Kilkenny Lane as Carterton FC hosted Carterton Rangers in a hastily rearranged fixture. There was plenty of drama anticipated on the pitch before kick-off but the tension escalated in the build up with Rangers’ pitch deemed unfit for play by the match officials. Quickly travelling to the other end of Carterton to get the game on and avoid an abandonment the delayed game finally kicked off. The perfect surface allowed a free flowing game of football and the goals flowed too as Carterton FC completed a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes in the competition to advance into the last four.

Despite no wins in the opening three games, they crucially battled back to win the remaining four fixtures to advance, winning this final encounter 4-1 and send Rangers out of the competition. Carterton just had to wait on the Hailey result to find out if they finished second or first.

Hailey found themselves two goals down and missed a penalty but eventually saw off a resilient Hook Norton side to win the group. Hook Norton came out firing and quickly earned themselves an advantage in the game, Jay Mair slotting home before Hooky’s lead was doubled by Sam Prickett.

Jack Wood missed a penalty and the subsequent rebound as Hooky held onto their lead but found themselves pegged back by Jordan Cormack’s brace to bring the scores level. Hailey took the lead for the first time through Sam Britnell but Hooky drew level thanks to Shane Peedell’s goal. A seventh goal would prove critical to Hailey’s finishing position if it arrived. Carterton’s victory would have seen them slip to second with a defeat but they were on the right side of it as Cameron Foster put them 4-3 ahead and secured three points and top spot in Group One.

Minster Lovell managed to record back-to-back victories in their last two fixtures as they won 2-1 for the second week running. Their victory over Spartan Rangers, ended their opponent’s hopes of breaking into the top two. Mykel Ryan scored for the second week running and was joined on the score sheet by Joe Dove. Donny Henderson-Sowerby grabbed a consolation for Spartan but it was too little too late.

Charlbury received a walkover victory against Chadlington to eventually finish third in the group.

Ted Young Senior Cup – Group 2
Enstone were assured of top spot after finding out on Saturday morning that Carterton Reserves were unable to raise a side. Their walkover victory guaranteed them top spot in the group, leaving Milton and Stonesfield to fight it out for the second place in the group.

Stonesfield left it very late but ultimately did what they had to do to dump all the pressure on Milton by beating Wootton Sports 4-2. In an entertaining back and forth affair Stonesfield benefitted from a penalty that was safely dispatched by Nick Higgs. Wootton hit back to draw level through Craig Gilboy and then added a second to take the lead through Karl Ware. It stayed that way until the 85th minute where Stonesfield hit another gear.

Mike Phipps added a second to restore parity, Nick Higgs slotted home a second penalty to give them the lead and Luke Holdsworth scored a fourth to make sure of the points. The game finished with six goals and Stonesfield had to wait to hear how Milton had got on in their game to know if they’d progressed.

For the second game in a row, Milton owe a huge debt of gratitude to Alex Ayres as his brace gave Milton the three points that ensured they would definitely finish second in the group. Bletchington put up a fight and scored through Tom Knox but Ayres’ brace for Milton gave them a 2-1 win and a earned themselves a trip to Hailey.

Witney Royals had already received a walkover victory against Hailey Reserves prior to the weekend’s games.

Senior Cup Semi-Finals
Tuesday 4th May – Hailey vs Milton (at Hailey). 18:30 kick off
Wednesday 5th May – Enstone vs Carterton (@Enstone) 18:30 kick off

Watts Junior Cup - Group 3
Ducklington did just enough to defeat Siege and set up a home semi-final against Kingham All Blacks. Ducklington were well aware that a point would take them through but started in a dominant fashion only to find themselves wasteful in front of goal. Lewis Bartlett hit the inside of the post with Steve Lazarus well beaten in the Siege net, then fired wide from a tight angle. Harvey Butler had a header cleared off the line but as the half wore on, Siege grew into the game with no chances of note.

In the second period Tom Sore was called upon to make his first save blocking Andy Makepeace’s close range effort. Makepeace then fired over when it was easier to score from inside the six yard box. As the game appeared to be petering out to a 0-0 draw, Duck had a Bartlett free-kick blocked and from the subsequent cross, Gary Nicholson found the ball hitting him and into his own net past the unfortunate Lazarus. Duck held on comfortably and confidently head into Wednesday’s semi-final.

With Ducklington victorious Combe could no longer qualify, not that it mattered as they were battered 8-3 by North Leigh. Lewis Hathaway led the way as he fired home a hat-trick. Liam Varney hit two and the three further goals followed from Louis Williams, Jack Clarke and Bailey Wyatt. Combe hit back from Archie Hamilton. Rory Ward and Angus Ibbitson but it was nowhere near enough to get the job done on this occasion.
Wootton Reserves had already pulled out of the competition and so Eynsham received the points.

Watts Junior Cup – Group 4
Carterton Town B secured top spot, and a last four showdown with Siege, in an entertaining 3-3 draw against Cassington Rangers which ended their opponent’s chances of reaching the semi-final. In a topsy-turvy game, Cassington found the net through Jason Blackman, Nathan Prestidge and Tyler Walker but couldn’t escape the clutches of Town as they also hit three through John Sword, Carl Drury and Tyler Webster meaning that Cassington were eliminated.

With Cassington drawing, it was a straight fight between Kingham and Brize Norton with the winners going straight into the semi-final. Brize fired in through Jack Cameron but Brize were undone by a brilliant Dan Lay hat-trick as Kingham progress to meet Ducklington

Game of the group was played out between Chadlington Reserves and Spartan Rangers Reserves as they engaged in a seven goal thriller at Chadlington. Neither side could progress but it didn’t stop a brilliant game of football taking place. Ethan Barrett’s brace put Spartan on the road to victory with further goals from Matt Sweirgon and Richard Brumble. Ethan Taylor and Miles Taylor scored one each and a third followed from Liam Walsh as the home side fought valiantly but couldn’t stop the 4-3 reverse.

Semi-Final line up
Tuesday 4th May – Carterton Town B vs Siege (at Monahan Way) 18:30 kick off
Wednesday 5th May – Ducklington vs Kingham (at Ducklington) 18:30 kick off

Supplementary Cup – Group 5
Bampton Reserves pulled off a narrow victory over Witney Royals Reserves to leapfrog their opponents and qualify for the semi-finals in the process. The third versus second encounter had plenty riding on it and the game delivered plenty of drama in the process. Josh White scored for Bampton only for Olly Nolan to restore parity. Ryan Harris gave Royals a 2-1 lead to put them in a commanding position. With Bampton having to win to guarantee their place, up stepped Regan Pritchard to score a devastating double to give Bampton the 3-2 win and break Royals hearts in the process.

Brize Norton could no longer qualify following Bampton’s victory and ended up having no game, receiving a walkover victory against Leafield Reserves.

Hailey A also got the points to finish on 100% for the group stage. Kingham Reserves forfeiting their fixture before kick off.

Supplementary Cup – Group 6
Hook Norton Reserves were already guaranteed top spot ahead of Saturday’s fixtures but will fly into the semi-finals with plenty of confidence after a sixth victory in the group stage. This time their victims were FC Mills who in turn saw their semi-final dreams fade with defeat. Darren Smith did score for Mills but regular goal getters Mitchell Faulkner and Will Wall scored one apiece to take the three points. They face Bampton on Wednesday night.

Leafield were in charge of their own destiny and dominated proceedings to send them into a semi-final against Hailey A on Wednesday night. They won 6-1 against Spartan A to cement their place in the top two. Kyle Grimmett (2), Lloyd Offort (2) and Stu Morrison were amongst the goal scorers for the winning side.

Leafield’s victory ended Aston Reserves outside chance of qualification. Chipping Norton Town forfeited the fixture before kick-off to give Aston the points.

Semi-Final line up
Wednesday 5th May – Hailey A vs Leafield (at Hailey) 18:30 kick off
Wednesday 5th May – Hook Norton Reserves vs Bampton United Reserves (at Hook Norton) 18:30 kick off