Match Reports - Week 6

Fred Ford Cup
Saturday saw the remaining 2nd Round Fred Ford Cup Ties played. This resulted in one major upset and 2 of the Premier Division ‘big boys’ taken to penalties by lower division opposition.

The upset was caused by Freeland A from Division 1 who defeated Hailey 3-2. Rob Belcher scored twice for the home side and this was added to by Spaniard Javier Cordoba. Hailey were made to pay for the missed chances and on another day could and should have scored 6 or 7 but only had goals from Mark Wright and Nick Buckingham to show for their efforts.

Defending Champions West Witney were taken all the way by Brize Norton before the tie was settled from the spot. Brize took a shock lead when Pawel Bronk netted after 15 minutes and the same player could have doubled the advantage when through one on one with the keeper but his shot hit the post. From then on it was like Rorke’s Drift (look it up on Wiki) with wave upon wave of West Witney attacks being propelled by the Brize rear-guard. But with 15 to go the walls were breached thanks to Karl Dodds’ fine overhead kick. Brize continued to manfully hold on and managed to take the match to penalties but by the end their legs had given out on them and West won the spot kicks 3-1.

The second game to go to penalties was at Chipping Norton Town were the home side defeated Bourton Rovers after being level at 2-2 at full time. The visitors took an early lead through Sam Mattock and doubled the advantage when an error from the Chippy keeper allowed Matty Winter to score. This seemed to spur Chippy into action and brothers Andy and Richard McCabe scored to take the game to extra time. Bourton had chances to win it in extra time but could not covert and Chippy held their nerve in the shoot out.

In the all Premier Division game Carterton edged out Hanborough 3-2. Mike Bolt nipped in to give Carterton an early lead, but this was soon cancelled out when a free kick was met at the back post by Joey Burgess. Hanborough then took the lead with a screamer of a free kick from Arran Hobley. Carterton’s keeper Herbert then made a great save to keep his side in the game and with 20 minutes to go a long ball picked out Luke Simmonds and he fired past Mike Burke. Carterton’s winner came with 10 minutes to go when poor marking at a corner allowed Jack Mills to steal in and score.

Minster Lovell put their disappointing league form behind them to move into the next round with a 3-1 victory over Aston. Two goals from Jason Blackman were added to by Mykel Ryan. Matt Brown netted for Aston.

In the other all Premier Division tie Witney Royals saw off Chadlington by the odd goal in 3. Tom West making his return to the club after a midweek transfer scored the opener with Matt Thompson adding the 2nd. Matthew Plumridge pulled a goal back for Chadlington.

Last years’ beaten finalists Carterton Rangers fell at the first hurdle this time around going down 3-1 to Charlbury in a game that could have went either way. Two goals from Shaun Gilbert and one from Mark Fitzgerald saw Charlbury through with James Barker replying.

Jack Morton helped himself to another hat trick as Ducklington saw off the challenge of Division 2 strugglers Milton 6-1. Jamie Kennedy scored a brace and Dan Price added other. The ever-greeen Pip Benfield scored Milton’s consolation.

North Leigh A were too good for FC Mills wining 5-0 against a team that played the entire 90 minutes with only 10 men. There were 2 goals apiece for Ryan maskery and Josh Russell to add to an own goal.

Spartan Rangers had a tricky away tie at Division 3 leaders Middle Barton and came away with a 3-1 win. Frank Clarke, Alex Thomson and Josh Grant netted for the visitors with Michael Beale replying.

FC Nomads edged out Finstock wining by the odd goal in 5. Lee Travers put the visitors ahead before 2 goals including a penalty from Chris Lawrence put Nomads ahead. Steve Bircher added a 3rd but a late goal from Gary McKinnon produced a nervy end to the match.

Carterton Pumas put in a much improved performance to see off Kingham 5-1. There were two goals apiece for Stu Wilkinson and Dean Matthews and one for Si Turner. Dan Davies replied for Kingham.

Wootton proved too strong for Wychwood Foresters running out 2-0 winners and could even afford the luxury of a missed Liam Gubbins penalty. Mitch Larman and Mark Rawlings did manage to find the net.

A brace from goal-machine John Ayres was enough for Eynsham to defeat Kirtlington2-1. Shane Probitts scored for the home side.

Finally in the all Bampton affair, United edged out Town by 2 goals to 1. It was the two Connor’s that were the difference between the sides, with O’Shea and Kelly scoring for United. Aaron Robins scored for Town

Division One
In the only game in Division One, it was top against bottom and the result if not the score was predictable as leaders Hailey Reserves thrashed Hanborough Reserves 12-0. There were hat tricks for John Andrews and Mo Semlali and doubles for Daryll Kew, Harvey Butler and Kristian Collis.

Division Two
FC Hollybush climbed to the top of the Division 2 table with a 3-0 victory over Witney Wanderers . Lee Keyes scored his 7th & 8th goals of the campaign and Dave Cooper his 5th in the win.

Witney Royals Reserves stay rooted to the foot of the table as they went down 5-1 at home to Ducklington Reserves. It was a mixed day for 16 year old Will Hayes as he netted his first senior goal for Royals but later was thought to have fractured his wrist. This was a much needed win for Duck who had failed to pick up any points since the opening day of the season. On target for the visitors were, Bradley Snell, Lee Beer, Waine Evans, Josh Hartley and Ryan Oliver.

Division Three
Spartan Rangers Reserves maintained their perfect start to the season but were made to work hard for their 3-1 victory over Ducklington A. After surviving an early bombardment Duck took the lead, when Dave Baker’s cross found the head of Pat Brown and he nodded in his 4th goal of the season. They held onto the lead until 15 minutes into the second half, when Paul Saunders used all his experience to caress a pass past the helpless Rod King in the Duck goal. A superb 35 yard lobbed effort from Gavin Kominek put Spartan in front and a late Jason King tap in sealed the points.

Carterton Town B are right on the heels of the leaders and they boosted their goal difference with an 8-0 thumping of Bourton Rovers Reserves. Dan Sollis took his season’s total to 8 goals with a hat trick and there was 2 more for Olly Bush. John Smailes, Neil Taylor and Craig Isle scored the rest.

Minster Lovell Reserves are level on points and goal difference with Carterton after they hammered Kingham Reserves 7-0. Gareth Pearson lead the scoring with a brace and there was one apiece for Nathan Bowles, Jimmy Hearne, Collis King, Pete Hanley and Lewis Dewe.

Brize Norton Res and Chipping Norton Reserves shared the points after a 1-1 draw. Scott Peaper put Brize ahead only for Fred Wilkins to cancel this out.

Division Four
The game of the day in Division Four saw the joint leaders; Eynsham SSC Reserves and Aston Reserves face each other. It was visitors Aston who pulled clear at the top running out 5-3 winners. There were 2 goals apiece for Matt Wood and Dan Isherwood for Aston with Ben Waldron getting the other. For Eynsham this was a blemish to their previous 100% winning record, John Griffiths (2) and Kevin Webb scored for them.

The two pre-season title favourites were in action as Tower Hill hosted Corinthians, but it turned out to be a very much one sided affair with Tower romping home 8-2. Leading scorer Jamie Goodwin took his tally to 5 for the season with a brace and this was added to by strikes by Adam Bolley, Gary Smith, Joe Brown, Luke James, George French and James Gough. It was a disappointing performance from an under-strength Corinthians side who had only a double from Dan Smith to show for their efforts.

Tom Merchant hit a hat trick as Spartan Rangers A moved into 2nd place in the table with a 5-1 win over Milton Reserves. Brothers James and Henry Macke scored the others, with Adrian Underhill replying.

Chadlington Reserves gained there first point of the campaign after a 2-2 draw with at home to Wootton Reserves. Rory Shadbolt and Adam Hunt scored for the home side with Paul Biggam and Fraser Scott replying.

Finally a double from Dan Bilton and one from John Bignell was enough to help Hollybush Reserves defeat Bampton Utd Res by the odd goal in 5. Scott Thomson and Matt Curtis scored for Bampton.