Week 25 Football Report

Junior Shield

A huge week of fixtures for Hailey and Enstone this week as they earned the right to be first under the floodlights this season in their Junior Shield Semi-Final at Oxford City on Wednesday night. Hailey, defending champions, were facing off against an Enstone side who had beaten them just three weeks earlier in the league and were hunting them down in the title race in the league too.
The artificial surface allowed for some good football to be played but the opening fifteen minutes were a cagey affair, neither side able to muster a shot on goal. That all changed shortly after. Tom McCudden’s dangerous run into the box was ended illegally by an Enstone player. The ever reliable Jack Wood popped the ball on the spot and he calmly found the corner to give Hailey the lead.
The goal gave Hailey a boost of confidence and were clearly on top. Freddie Buckingham cruelly denied the opportunity to double their lead when he slipped as he went to shoot after his initial mazy run had allowed him to beat three players to put him in on goal. Then the turning point of the first half. Enstone’s first clear opportunity fell to Josh Hunt in the Hailey box but he was unable to get the ball out of his feet and he tamely shot into the hands of David Hill in the Hailey goal. The next chance fell to Hailey and they didn’t miss. Sam Wheeler got the ball on the wing and delivered a wonderful cross, top scorer Buckingham didn’t need a second invitation and put the ball home to double their lead. The score 2-0 at the break.
Part way through the second half it was game over as Wood grabbed his second. A ball played over the top found Wood perfectly, and without breaking stride he raced on and finished the move for his second of the night. Enstone weren’t about to give up though, Jay Mair found James Little in acres of space but he pulled the shot badly wide. Hailey were happy to sit back and give Enstone lots of the ball but they always looked comfortable. Enstone’s night was made worse when Jordan Godfrey received his marching orders for a second yellow card and from there the game meandered to a close as Hailey booked their place in a second consecutive Junior Shield Final.
This week’s semi-final sees Hanborough face off against Gravenhill on Wednesday night. 19:30 kick off at Oxford City FC.

Premier Division

Straight off the back of their Junior Shield semi-final Hailey were thrown into league action against Stonesfield on Saturday afternoon, the two sides occupying the top two spaces in the top league, separated by just four goals goal difference. Another good battle on a tough pitch saw Stonesfield have the first real chance of the game, Mike Phipps’ diving header missing the target. Just two minutes later and Hailey counter punched in the best way. Sam Wheeler racing down the right wing with the ball, looked up into the box, and his pinpoint cross found Jack Wood perfectly positioned two yards out and it would have been harder to miss. Miss, he did not, and Hailey were ahead.
Stonesfield were level before the break, in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Shaun Kemp was on his right wing with the ball and loaded what was surely meant to be a cross into the box. Instead the ball sailed over the head of David Hill in the Hailey net and Stonesfield were level.
Understandably the second period was a cagey affair. Nothing of note really happened and then the game turned in the last five minutes. First, Stonesfield snatched the lead. With 85 on the clock Carry Rice chased a lost cause of a long ball down the pitch. He reached the ball before it went out of play, fired a shot at the goal which was well saved by Hill but his parry could only find Rice who poked the ball home. Hailey pressed for an equaliser and Hailey had one final chance to level. Jack Wood all alone in the area once again, his shot flew towards the goal, only for him to be denied by a wonder save by Jordan Newman in the Stonesfield net. Stonesfield held on for a 2-1 win and now move three points clear at the top of the league with two games in hand.

Bottom side Spartan Rangers had a hand in the title race this weekend and stunned third placed Enstone to record their first win of the season. Following Hailey’s defeat, Enstone would have moved into second spot with a win but were swept aside by a well drilled Spartan side. Spartan went ahead early through Arrun White and never looked back. White eventually scored a hat-trick, with Frank Clarke adding a fourth as well. Not even Clarke and Peter Jenkins (from the sidelines) seeing red could deter Spartan’s progress on the day. Dan Bott did get Enstone on the score sheet but that was all they could muster in a 4-1 reverse.

Milton overtook Hanborough in the league as they recorded their third win in four games. A slow and steady first half was interrupted with one injury to a Hanborough player which saw him have to leave for hospital. Neither side offered much in the final third and it wasn't a surprise to anyone that the first half ended 0-0.
Into the second half and Hanborough looked the more positive. Early on they won a penalty but fortunately for Milton it rattled off the post and went clear. But Boro didn't miss their second opportunity. On 59 minutes, Tom Weedon fired home to give Boro a deserved lead. It was the kick that Milton needed as they injected more pace into the game. Pressing high and hard, looking to force mistakes eventually paid off as Josh Catling pounced on a poor back pass, outmuscled the keeper and as then popped the ball into the net. Catling was injured in the collision and had to depart. Milton's tails were up and felt like they could win it. There were five minutes left on the clock when Freddie Rix's driving run saw him beat two players before playing a through ball for Nathan Randall who's equally powerful run put him into the box and his low driven cross could only be turned into their own net by the Hanborough defenders. Boro went in search of an equaliser, a scramble in the box somehow didn't result in a goal and Milton eventually cleared. Milton held on for an important win and go up to fifth in the table.

Division One

The top two clashed at Kilkenny Lane on Saturday afternoon as Carterton FC Reserves hosted RAF Brize Norton Social. In a tense and tight affair only one goal was required to win the game and Conner Townsend’s first half strike was enough to give Carterton all three points. The win putting Carterton four points clear of Brize, and with a game in hand, meaning their title ambitions are firmly in their own hands.

Heyford Athletic remain in third place, eight points behind Brize, after their 2-0 win over Aston. Ben Dawe and Ryan Dudley scoring one each to give Heyford their fifth league win in a row.

Division One’s biggest winners of the day were Ducklington as they thumped Hatherop 7-0. The score line does deceive, the game was closer than the score suggests which is impressive seeing as most of the Hatherop team were made up of their former reserves side. Up until the 57th minute, Ducklington only led by one goal. From there Ducklington went goal mad as they hit six in the final half hour. Captain Dan Stanley led the way with a hat-trick, Sam Gubbins scored twice with Michael Casling and Sam Thompson scoring one each in a convincing win.

Combe have just their second win of the calendar year, and their first since January, as they narrowly beat Chadlington away from home. Josh Chadbund scored for Chadlington but Solomon Massz and Charlie Ibbotson’s goals gave Combe a 2-1 as they move to within six points of Hailey Reserves and safety.

Just one draw in the division as Witney Royals and Tower Hill managed to cancel each other out. Tim Banks and Jake Hall scored for visiting Tower, Luke Colville and Corey Donohoe responded for Royals. The point doing nothing for either side’s league position.

Division Two

One slightly early kick off in Division Two, Faringdon A having to kick off at 13:00 against Siege FC to avoid clashing with their first team’s Hellenic fixture at 15:00.
A bright start, at a very windy at Tucker Park, played out. Steve Lazarus forced into a couple of early saves for Siege, with Gez Morgan wasteful in front of the Faringdon goal, scooping over the bar when clean through one-on-one. In the 17th minute Siege took the lead. Jamie Kennedy showing Morgan how it’s done as he calmly slotted into the corner past Josh Tinson. Faringdon continued to press, another good Lazarus save down at his near post prevented one equaliser, a goal line clearance prevented another, with Faringdon convinced that it came off a hand but with the ref’s view impeded by a swarm of bodies, nothing was given.
An inspired substitution from Siege helped double their lead. Jonny Dover was only on the pitch two minutes when he scored Siege’s second. Powering through the middle of the defence and then firing low and hard into the net at the thirty minute point. Nine minutes later Siege were three ahead. Kennedy getting his second of the game as he stood by himself on the edge of the six yard box and slotted home after more good work from Dover around the box.
Into the second half and the close battle continued although Siege looked comfortable throughout. Whilst Faringdon arguably had the better territory and possession, Siege constantly had an out ball using the slope across the pitch to release Alfie Minchin, Chris Jones or Dover up front. Eventually Siege scored a fourth to properly kill off the game. Danny Allsworth firing high into the net in the 74th minute and with one minute to go, Ryan Clish added a fifth from inside the box to give Siege a second consecutive win.

At the top, both the top two won to keep the title race going. Cassington pushed past Witney Royals Reserves, 3-0. Three different goal scorers combined to give Cassington their sixteenth win of the season. Josh Clarke and Tyler Walker scored within four minutes of each other midway through the first half to give Cassington a 2-0 half-time lead. Neal Hobday scored on the hour mark to kill off the game.

Brize Norton had a tougher afternoon of it, beating Spartan Reserves by the odd goal in five at Station Road. Mev Gundem and James Macke’s goals almost gave Spartan their second win of the season but Joe Hatt, Jason Hirschfield and Paul Morrison scored one each to give Brize a 3-2 win and the title race rumbles on for another week.

Eynsham SSC fell further behind Brize as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Hailey A. Hailey were reduced to ten men during the game, and had a player sent off from the sidelines, but they held on for a hard earned point.

Bampton continued their impressive recent form with a 5-1 win over Kingham. Bampton, unbeaten in their last six, won their fifth game in a row with a big home win. Ben Brown, Robert Chatwell, Jake Pritchard and James Haley (2) finding the net. Dan Lay hit back for Kingham.

Ajay Itah scored a last minute winner as Milton’s great escape continues to build momentum. They sat second bottom, five points behind third bottom Freeland Reserves at the start of the day. Incidentally, Freeland were the visitors to Milton and the sides played out a goalless first half. Into the second half and Jake McNamara scored for Freeland with Mitchell Constable scoring for Milton in the 69th minute to set up a tense finish. The points looked like they were going to be shared until Itah scored in the 89th minute to win it for Milton and give them their second win in three games.

Division Three

There is a sliver of daylight between the top two and the chasing pack as another topsy-turvy weekend played out in Division Three.
Yarnton slipped to consecutive defeats for the first time this season as they fell to Deer Park Rangers this weekend. All six goals were scored in the second half and Yarnton would have been dreaming of all three points as they quickly raced into a 2-0 lead inside the first ten minutes, Michael Trafford and Chad Blackman scoring one each before the hour mark. There then followed a crazy six minutes where Rangers came from behind to go ahead. Michael Bason reduced the deficit on the hour mark before Cullen Angus drew Rangers level two minutes later. In the 66th minute Angus had his second and Rangers’ third as they took the lead for the first time. Yarnton increased the pressure to grab an equaliser but to no avail and Rangers secured the points seven minutes from time when Jamie Horne fired home to give Deer Park a 4-2 victory. Yarnton’s two games in hand are now crucial for their title aspirations.

Chadlington moved four points clear of Yarnton with a 2-0 victory over Leafield Reserves. A goal in each half was enough for all three points for Chad. Kevin Mulhearn giving Chad the lead after 20 minutes. Daniel Cleevely doubled their lead with fifteen minutes left and Chad’s defence held out for a clean sheet and three points.

Wootton remain one point ahead of Chad at the top after 4-0 win over Stonesfield Reserves. Asha Townsend’s incredible goal scoring season continues as he hit two to move 28 goals this season. Philip Stringer and Jamie Hutton added the extras to give Wootton their 15th league win this season.

A minute’s silence was held at multiple grounds as many clubs paid their respects to Micky Smith. None were more poignant than at Monahan Way where Micky was a huge part of the behind-the-scenes operations at Carterton Town. He was a well-liked and loved member of the team at Carterton and the wider Witney and District community and he will be sorely missed by many.
FC Mills remain in the hunt to reach the top two after beating Carterton Town. Ryan Williams copied his brace from last week’s game by scoring two again. Will Morris hit back for Town but Dean Mays scored a third for Mills to move them up to fourth and eleven points off second but with 3 games in hand. Mills face Yarnton next week.

A stunning second half fightback gave Tower Hill Reserves all three points against Sherborne Harriers. Sherborne were 3-0 up at half time, yet another Josh Betteridge hat-trick had Harriers on cloud nine as they went in at the break three to the good. Whatever was said during the Tower Hill team talk worked though as they came out firing in the second period. Matthew Gallagher and Josh Stares both scored one each. Christian Olive went one better by bagging a brace, including a header in the last minute to win it, as Tower Hill turned the game on its head and left West Witney with all three points after a 4-3 win.