Week 22 Football Report

The Fred Ford and Jack Busby Cup's finally got back in action after being delayed before Xmas.

Fred Ford Cup
There was potential for a few upsets as a number of lower division sides were pitted against higher ranked rivals. But in the end only Cassington Rangers from Division 2 pulled off an upset as they saw of Chadlington from Division 1. Chad looked to be in control of the game as they lead 2-0 thanks to goals from Sam Lewis and Ethan Bennett. But Cassington fought back and Jason Blackman and Jordan Lyne netted to take the tie into extra time. Then with only a couple of minutes remaining Blackman sealed the tie with his second goal.

From Hanborough FB Page

This game had the potential to be a banana skin with the visitors mid table in Division 2 having nothing to lose. The request was simple no complacency and a fast start. 5 minutes in and already a couple of chances were created with Craig Mays and Aston Leach going close but not hitting the target. Kingham then went close themselves with a direct ball forward and a lobbed effort just over. 10 minutes gone and Hanboroughs passing and creativity was clear to see when Leach played in Mays again who's lobbed effort was well saved. Hobley then curled a free kick straight at the Kingham keeper. Rogers was getting forward well down the left and getting balls into the box well. Kingham were looking dangerous on the break though and another chance flashed past the post before a corner spilled by Bennington caused havoc in the box, the Kingham attacker went down and ref Chris Ody pointed to the spot. The penalty was well saved from Tom Bennington. After this it was pretty much one way traffic with chance after chance coming for Hanborough but were not being taken, Mays fired a volley just over after great work from Jason Trinder, Aston Leach went agonisingly close with an instinctive lobbed effort which landed on the roof of the net, Dan Smith getting forward well drove a strike at the Kingham Keeper, Manifold almost rounded the keeper who again did well getting down to his feet, another great cross was headed just wide from Mays, and minutes later Mays fired in another shot just over the bar. Finally in the 47th minute of the first half Aston Leach took aim from 20 yards and his shot deflected and looped into the net. Finally 1:0.
Halftime
Hanborough 1:0 Kingham
The second half saw a tweak to system but not personal, and after 30 seconds a Rogers cross was met by Craig Mays who headed over again, chances were still coming and a great jinked run from Trinder bought another save from the Kingham keeper, Tom Weedon was introduced and quickly saw a snap shot bobble to the keeper, then Mays drilled effort came back to Nick Manifold who tapped the ball into the net, only for the ref to rule this one out for handball. Manifold again went close with a shot over the bar, and then Jason Trinder got round the keeper and cut the ball back for Craig Mays to slot home into the empty net. 2.0. Chris Bateson got down the right and his drilled cross was put wide from Karl Roberts, a great pass from Weedon to Josh Brookes who ran through on goal but put the ball wide again, Roberts, Mays and Weedon then played some great football which ended with Weedon smashing home. 3.0. With the game dying out Roberts had another chance but dragged his shot wide.

Division 1 leaders Carterton would have fancied their chances as they travelled to Premier Division Milton. The visitors had won their last 5 league games ann look nailed on for promotion. But it was Milton who came out on top winning 3-1. Liam Felstead scored the goal of the game for Carterton, striking from nearly 40 yards, but goals from Alex Ayres, Will Collett and Chris Godfrey saw Milton progressed into the last 8.

Faringdon Town Dvelopment were too strong for Siege running out 7-1 winners. Richard Evans lead the way with a hat trick with other goals from Robbie Harrington, Thomas James, Jamie Arlott and Thomas MacKenzie -Fenwick. Jamie Kennedy replied for Siege who finished the game with 10 men after Steve Lazarus was dismissed.

It was a memorable day for ref David Woodcock at Enstone, as he celebrated 25 years as a ref in the WDFA. HE went baack to where it all started 1998 and saw the home side defeat Aston 6-0. The visitors were severly lacking in numbers and woudl regard the result as somnething of a moral victory. Reece Bayliss (2) Nathan Bott, Josh Hunt, Dan Newman and James Little all found the net.

The Quarter Final draw was made and is as follows.
Hailey v RAF Brize Norton
Tower Hill v Cassington Rangers
Hanborough v Enstone
Milton v Faringdon Town Development.

Jack Busby Cup

The Jack Busby Cup had reached the quarter final stage and the 4 ties saw 3 hat tricks.
Tower Hill Res hosted Milton Res. Tower started brighter and took a deserved lead in the 23rd minute. Tim Banks given time to turn in the box and rifle home past keeper Dan Hooton. Just four minutes later Milton were level with the goal of the game. Neat one touch football through midfield eventually provided an opportunity to push the ball forward where George Ford ran onto a pass and fired a volley from the right corner of the box over the head of Georgi Petrakov. The game level at the break.
Second half and Petrakov was far busier than Hooton as Milton became more dominant. Eventually the pressure told as Petrakov swung and missed at a clearance in the box, got tangled with his defender's, leaving substitute Ajay Itah to slot home with ease. In the 75th minute it was game over. Great work by Paddy Collett down the left created enough space for the cross and Itah was alone in the box to volley home. Itah completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute, a cross from the right sailed goalwards and Petrakov couldn't stop it from creeping under the crossbar and in as Milton ran out 4-1 victors.

Mikey Piper was the hat trick hero for Witney Royals Res saw off the challenge of Faringdon Town A. Luca Balmer scored his first of the campaign in the 4-1 victory. Tom Burdett replying for the visitors.

The 3rd hat trick bagger was Moh Semlili for cup holders Hailey Res as they defeated Leafield Res 6-1. The first half was a tight affair with Hailey taking the lead only for James Hearn to equalise. But Hailey ran riot in the 2nd period Semlali completed his hat trick and there was a brace for Seb White and one for George Blundell.

Chadlington Res got the better of Hatherop Res 2-0 to make the semi's. Goals from Finley Beggin and the evergreen George Slatter saw them through.

The Semi Final draw sees
Hailey Res v Witney Royals Res
Milton Res v Chadlington Res.

Division One

There was just the one game in Division 1 and Witney Royals helped ease their relegation worries with a 3-1 win at Ducklington. Brothers Corey and Cameron Donohoe both netted for Royals, with Cam scoring against the side that taught him all he knows. John Umney on debut scored for Duck.

Division Two

Brize Norton missed the chance to cut Cassington Rangers lead at the top of the table to 6 points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Eynsham SSC. Malek Chok scored for Eynsham, but Dylan Briggs 11th goal of the season secured a point for Brize and 7 points clear in the promotion race.

At the foot of the table Spartan Rangers Res will be wondering how they did not claim only their 3rd win of the season as they were help to a 1-1 by Freeland Res. They could easily have been 3-0 up before Jake McNamara put the home side ahead. Keeper Richard Simpson was inspired for the home side and he was finally beaten late on by Tom Foggart. Spartan still had more chances to win it, but Simpson again foiled them.

Bampton got the better of Leafield in their mid table clash. Jake Pritchard and Ben Brown scoring for Bampton and Mateus Cunhado replying.

Division Three

Just 1 point separates the top 3 in Division 3. Only Wootton were in action and they ran out convincing 5-1 winners at FC Mills. Aaron French scored a bullet free kick for Mills but they could not deal with Wootton's relentless 2nd half onslaught. Asha Townsend and Daniel Harris scoring twice with Michael Steers scoring the other.

Sherborne Harriers poor form since Christmas continued as they lost for the 6th time, going dowm 7-0 at Kingham Res. There was a hat trick for Adrian Williams and 2 each for Lewis Pretorious and Ellis Godin.