Week 17 Football Report

A moment first, before we get to the football, to pay our respects to two devoted Witney and District family members who we’ve lost in the last fortnight.

League Life Vice President John Gould sadly passed away. John played for Brize Norton and Ducklington, winning the Junior Cup with the latter back in 1964. After retiring, he continued to devote himself to local football as he became treasurer for the league, a role he held with distinction for twenty years! John’s family have followed him into local football, his son Lee played for Carterton for many years and his grandson Harvey plays for Aston currently.

Also, Witney Royals lost Dan Harflett at just forty years of age. Dan was an important part of the Witney Royals family, where he’d been since 2010. He played, he managed and he may have even scored the odd goal or two in his time as well. He was a kind and supportive member not only of the Royals family but across the Witney and District. The outpouring of love and affection from many clubs showed how well liked he was across the whole league.

Our thoughts go out to the Gould family, the Harflett family and Witney Royals at this sad time.

Premier Division

Twenty six goals, in three league games, in the top league this week, as perhaps defences returned somewhat rustier than strikers did on the first full week back.

There was one draw, a 3-3 epic between Hanborough and Milton, most details are from Hanborough’s Facebook page.
After another couple of weeks off due to the weather the lads finally took to the pitch for a league fixture against Milton. It was a slow and lethargic start with broken play, and neither side really dominating possession. Half chances fell to both sides until a marauding run from the forever young Dan Haggie ended with him being tripped in the box, penalty. Dan picked himself up, grabbed the ball, spotted it and smashed it into the net. 1 - 0 Hanborough, probably against the run of play at this point. Milton's reaction was swift with them being first to every ball working harder and faster than Boro it was only a matter of time before they got the equaliser they deserved, a ball across the box found Sam Wright at the far post who had an easy tap in, just two minutes before half-time

Half time
Hanborough 1:1 Milton

If the first half was lacklustre the start of the second half was a disaster another Boro mis placed pass led to yet another turnover and Milton were in with Alex Ayres free to slot home to make it 2-1 to Milton, just 2 minutes after the restart. Boro were all over the place outnumbered and out worked and losing the ball too often and this was compounded when Josh Catling was in acres of space and gifted all the time to pop a shot away, the shot squirmed through the grasp of Tom Bennington and trickled over the line. 3-1 Milton and only five minutes of the second half had expired. Hanborough made changes with new signing Sean Quinn coming on and a tweak to the system and this twinned with a realisation from the players on the field that efforts need to be upped. Suddenly it was Hanborough who were first to everything and keeping the ball much better, Alan Rogers getting forward more swung a pin point cross to Craig Mays who headed home. The game had spun on its head and waves of Hanborough attacks were coming all be it with Milton breaking dangerously. Shaun Hiles came on for Hanborough and his hard work earned a free kick which was bundled home by debutant Sean Quinn. 3:3. With time running out there was still further Boro chances to win it with Mays nearly getting on the end of a through ball, and then deep in injury time Mays headed over.
In the end and overall probably a fair result, but Hanborough left wondering what might have been had they played like they did in the last 20 minutes for the full 90.

Stonesfield are three from three as they romped past bottom side Spartan Rangers. Logan Mitchell’s four-timer put Stonefield in complete control of proceedings, with Raffy Rice hitting a hat-trick as well. There was still time for Will Barker and Jack Sale to score for the home side as well, Arun White scored Spartan’s consolation goal in the 9-1 reverse.

Ten goals in the Hailey vs Freeland game as well, and another one sided victory as well. Hailey recorded six different goal scorers this week in a resounding 8-2 win. Sam Wheeler, Sam Britnell, Jack Muttock, Freddie Buckingham and Travis O’Connor all scored one each. Rob Keylock and Sam Blantz replied for Freeland but Jack Wood’s hat-trick gave Hailey a mighty win and healthy boost to their goal difference as well.

Enstone maintained the pressure on Hailey without kicking a ball, a walkover win against Minster Lovell gave them an easy three points.

Division One

Both ends of division one continues to get tighter and tighter as the weeks go on. The top three are separated by just four points, with third placed Hatherop holding a game in hand. At the bottom, just 3 points separates the bottom seven!

Starting at the bottom then, Hailey Reserves jumped off the bottom and into seventh with a welcome 2-1 over Faringdon Development. Justin Yates scored for Faringdon but Luke Perkins brace stole the three points for Hailey to allow them to jump five places in the league.

Combe slipped to the bottom step after a 5-2 defeat by third placed Hatherop. Charlie Ibbotson and Ciaran Northwood scored for Combe but were cancelled out by Cameron Lloyd and Charlie Bailey’s goals for Hatherop. It was down to Christian Turner-Williams to take his tally to 9 this season with a hat-trick, and take all three points for Hatherop.

Witney Royals also fell into the bottom two after an agonising 2-1 home defeat by Heyford Athletic. Connor Duggan’s brace allowed Heyford to leave with the points, Luke Rippington’s strike wasn’t enough for Royals.

Ducklington are just outside the drop zone after a 5-2 defeat to top side RAF Brize Norton Social, although the game was closer than the score line suggested. There were no real clear cut chances until Brize took the lead on fifteen minutes, Allando Davis opening the scoring from inside the box. Duck equalised two minutes later though, a lofted free kick from halfway allowed Charlie Fisher to rise highest in the box and loop a header over the stranded Greig Masson. Ten minutes later Brize were ahead again, a quick move through the middle created space for Mike Flavell on the right hand side and his low hard strike beat the keeper and found the bottom corner. Their third came two minutes later, a carbon copy of the second found Flavell out on the right, this time his strike was well saved but Dave Wanless was ready to pounce on the rebound and fire home. It looked as though it would stay that way until half time but one last burst from Harvey Butler pushed him into the box, keeper Masson came flying out his goal, Butler was quickest to the ball, Masson could only hit Butler, penalty Ducklington. Max Davison popped the ball on the spot and then fired it into the net to reduce the deficit to one at the break.
Into the second half and Duck started the brighter, causing Brize a few problems without ever testing Masson. The sixth goal of the game eventually arrived in the 75th minute. A ball across the box found Mike Duerden in acres of space and he was able to fire home with ease. Still Duck hunted for a way back into the game but Brize made sure of the points in the 85th minute. Dave Wanless taking a quick throw to release Duerden down the left who poked the ball across the box for Flavell to get his second. The win keeps Brize top, by just two points.

Chadlington are just a point outside the bottom two after an agonising defeat to second place Carterton. Only a Liam Felstead penalty could separate the sides in the 1-0 Carterton win.

Aston and Tower Hill shared the spoils in their encounter, but it still made for an entertaining game. Ollie Hawkins scored for Aston from the penalty spot. Tower’s heroics came from an unlikely source as Tom Such jogged out of his goal to take a free kick from just over halfway, only to watch his kick fly unchallenged into the Tower net and the game finished 1-1.

Division Two

On a commemorative day at Burwell Meadow as dozens of people gathered to pay their respects to Daniel Harfleet, Witney Royals Reserves managed to beat Spartan Reserves 3-1. Lee Scoles scored Spartan’s goal. To honour his memory, Royals awarded all three of their goals to Harfleet, who was included on the team sheet in a touching tribute to their friend.

Last week, Cassington were the only team able to hold a fixture. They beat the freezing temperatures to host Siege FC and ran out 4-1 winners. They needed a second half surge, not for the first time this season. Rob Marsh cancelled out Jordan Lyne’s penalty for an equal first period. Into the second half, Neal Hobday managed to get them in front on 64 minutes and his second on 73 minutes seemed to make sure of the points. Jason Blackman’s 82nd minute goal was icing on the cake and Cassington maintained their 100% record and opened a nine point lead at the top.

This week, Cassington managed to go one better, beating Leafield 5-1, with some similar names on the score sheet. It was slightly easier this week, Neal Hobday had Cassington ahead inside ten minutes, Jason Blackman doubled the lead on 36 minutes and Cassington remained two ahead at the break. Blackman got his second on 58 minutes, Nathan Prestidge came off the bench to score Cassington’s fourth and the points were all sealed by Tyler Walker’s penalty. Mark Vinius grabbed a consolation for Leafield.

Brize Norton kept the gap to nine points without kicking a ball. A walkover victory against Bampton kept them in the hunt, especially with two games in hand.

Milton remain in the bottom two after a 4-2 defeat against Hailey A. The first half ended goalless but Hailey cracked first in the second half, stand in keeper Dan King wiping out a Milton player to give away a penalty. He redeemed himself immediately though, saving the penalty with his fingertips. George Ford and Max Guest did get Milton onto the scoresheet but they were cancelled out by Jamie Goodwin’s double. Nathan Rees and Curtis Hathaway added a goal each to put Hailey clear and give them their fifth win of the season. The score line could have been bigger but Cody Davies’ sumptuous overhead kick was cleared off the line.

Freeland Reserves grabbed their third win of the season and pulled themselves clear of the bottom two, with a narrow victory over Faringdon A. Tom Burdett scored for Faringdon but goals from Rob Frost and Matt Williams turned the game in Freeland’s favour for all three points.

Eynsham are up to fourth, also winning 2-1, in their win over Kingham. Ash Bowerman’s seventh goal in eight starts put Eynsham ahead, Mitch Faulkner’s seventh goal of the season got Kingham in the game but Martin Edwards was on hand to win it for Eynsham, for a seventh win of the season.

Just like the two divisions before, only one draw in division two this week, as nothing could separate Hatherop Reserves and Siege FC. Jonny Dover and Alfie Minchin scored for Siege. Jason Cobb and David Legg ensured a share of the spoils for Hatherop in a 2-2 draw.

Division Three
No draws in division three this week from the six fixtures played.

Chadlington Reserves are still top after a walkover victory against Leafield Reserves.

FC Mills jumped into second place by beating Eynsham Reserves. Free scoring Mills might have hoped for a somewhat easier afternoon, given that Eynsham shipped nine goals in their last outing and Mills had scored six. But only three goals on the day. Ben Thomson scored from the spot, Owen Johnson scored for Eynsham as they looked for a point that would take them off the bottom but John Chapman broke Eynsham hearts with a second for Mills and a 2-1 win.

Ethan Penney’s hat-trick took his personal tally to nine for the season as Yarnton won their first game of 2023. A 4-0 win over second bottom Carterton Town was a welcome return to the action having not had a game since December 3rd. Michael Trafford slotted home a fourth for the home team who remain three points off top spot, with two games in hand.

Deer Park Rangers are a further three points back, in fifth, after a 5-1 win over Sherborne Harriers. A brace from Harry Edwards, plus strikes from Chris Godfrey, Alfie Hester and Dan Squires gave Rangers an assured victory. A first half strike from Josh Betteridge was just a consolation for Harriers.

Stonesfield Reserves are level on points with Deer Park after the biggest win of the day. Mike Phipps’ hat-trick propelled Stonesfield to a 7-1 win over Tower Hill Reserves. Jayden Chapple got two off the bench and there were further goals from James Cox and Eden Rice. Fenn Carey did at least put Tower on the score sheet.

Aston Reserves remain third bottom after a 3-1 defeat away at Kingham Reserves. Reece Waine scored for Aston but they were undone by a Lewis Pretorius brace and a third goal from Jake Godfrey secured the points for mid-table Kingham.