Week 27 Match Reports

Premier Division

Bradley Evans scored twice as Hailey made the most of one of their games in hand to narrow the gap to one point at the top of the table. Sam Wheeler and top scorer Freddie Buckingham also scored one each in their 4-1 win over Stonesfield. Carry Rice got Stonesfield’s consolation.

Division One

In the game of the day, third placed Ducklington hosted league leaders Tower Hill. It was the visitors who left with all three points thanks to Jack Scott’s goal which earned them a 1-0 win. Tower are now ten points clear of Ducklington and are in full control of their title ambitions.

Chadlington kept up the pressure from second place with a narrow victory of their own against Bampton. Josh Betts scored in the fifteenth minute to give Chadlington the lead. Alfie Peachey moved to 23 goals for the season as he got Chadlington’s second. Mark Norridge hit back for Bampton but Chadlington held on to keep tabs on Tower.

Aston returned to winning ways with a single goal victory over Witney Royals. Kieran Watts’ goal was enough for all three points to move Aston up to fourth in the table.

Eynsham SSC and Spartan Rangers played out a five-goal thriller at Eynsham, with the home side escaping with a win that lifted them out of the relegation zone. Che Tannock and Corey Kelly both scored one each for Spartan but Luke Hamill’s brace and a Malek Chok strike saw Eynsham and Hailey Reserves swap places. Next week’s fixture list pits Eynsham and Hailey against each other in a relegation six-pointer.

Heyford Athletic returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Cassington Rangers. Jack Duggan’s first half brace gave Heyford a 2-0 lead. Joseph Flarry’s second half strike made sure of the points as Heyford jumped two places into eighth.

Hanborough Reserves recorded the biggest win in the division, as eleven goals were scored in their game against visiting Brize Norton. A brace for both Alpha Breezy Kamara and Adam Butcher got Hanborough well on the way to victory. Further goals from Charlie Collins, Luke Perkins, Lewis Jarvis and Jack Simmonds gave Hanborough their first win since their January victory over the same opposition. Jason Hirshfield, Joe Hatt and Dylan Briggs all scored one each in reply for Brize, to add some respect to the scoreline.

Division Two

CHQ United missed the chance to reclaim top spot as they shared eight goals with Kingham All Blacks. Jake Godfrey and Dan Nimmo scored twice each to take a point for Kingham and keep Moreton Rangers top.

Wootton still have their title destiny in their own hands as they battled past Siege FC. Jonny Dover and Gez Morgan scored for Siege but Tyla Morgan and Jamie McGuaig both scored twice each and Paul Brown made sure of the points for high-flying Wootton.
Michael Trafford saw red on a miserable afternoon for Yarnton A as Leafield recorded their first on-field victory since the 23rd September, beating their hosts 2-0. The three points taking Leafield out of the relegation zone at the expense of Chadlington Reserves.

Chadlington Reserves had no chance to earn any points as they had to forfeit their game against Faringdon Town Development.
Witney Royals Reserves eased their relegation fears as two second half goals earned them all three points against Freeland. Mikey Piper and Archie Tranter both scored one each for Royals’ fifth win of the season. Royals are now level on points with Freeland, both sides are six points clear of Chadlington in the last relegation spot.

A Bourton on the Water resident benefitted from a football landing in their garden (probably) and Bourton Rovers escaped with a point as they drew 0-0 with FC Mills on Saturday. The talking point? Daz Craig’s penalty flew over the bar into one lucky resident’s back garden. Luckily Bourton had a spare ball and the game continued but neither side could break the deadlock.

Last night, Moreton Rangers Reserves travelled to Bourton Rovers Reserves for the A429 derby. Moreton ended up moving four points clear at the top of the table, after a 3-1 win. Lee Brooks moved to 27 goals for the season with a brace, Harry Peters adding a third. George Callinan pulled one back for Bourton who remain 10th but it finished 3-1.

Division Three

Two of the top four lost in Division Three as once again the promotion plot thickened.

Dan Paintin’s superb hat-trick helped Bampton Reserves to their third consecutive victory as they toppled top of the league Deer Park Rangers on Saturday. Paintin’s haul made him Bampton’s top scorer for the season as he moved to nine goals for the campaign. Rangers led at the break 2-1, but a second half fightback put Bampton 4-2 up. Rangers did pull one back but Bampton held on for all three points. Dan Squires, James Scott and Ethan Phillips-Richardson all scored one each for Rangers but Tom Cruttwell's goal proved decisive.

Tower Hill Reserves started the day four points off second place but couldn’t improve on their position after a surprise defeat to lowly Eynsham Reserves. Cody Davies found the net for Tower but an Ashley Cooper brace and a Jack Morgan strike brought Eynsham their seventh win of the season as they jumped into 10th place.

Aston Reserves are the form side in the division of late, unbeaten in their last six, and moved into second place in the table with a 7-1 demolition of bottom side Leafield Reserves. Reece Wain and Tom Merchant scored twice each in the comfortable win. Sam Bodinham, Phil Jeacock and Ashley Armitage all scored one as Aston moved above Carterton Town on goal difference after the healthy win. Leon Smith replied for Leafield.

Spartan Rangers Reserves earned their second win in three games after beating Stonesfield Reserves by the odd goal in five. Jonny Newton and Luke Burns scored for Stonesfield but a Michael Hole strike and a brace from Mev Gundem moved Spartan twelve points clear of bottom side Leafield.

Faringdon Town A inflicted a first defeat in five games on Yarnton B as they also moved further away from Leafield Reserves at the bottom. A win for Yarnton would have moved them up two places and Sean Dyer got them on the score sheet but Faringdon fought back through Jason Evans and Kenny Mortimer-Jones as Faringdon took the points.

Heyford Athletic Reserves were given a break before their Jack Busby semi-final after receiving a walkover victory against Kingham Reserves.

Jack Busby semi-final

Moreton Rangers kindly hosted the first Witney and District semi-final of the season (at last!) as Heyford Athletic Reserves and Milton under Wychwood Reserves faced off for a place in the final. Heyford had the better possession and territory but couldn’t make it count, even missing a penalty in the dying embers of the first half. They were made to pay in the second period, when Milton manager Dan Hootton made no mistake from in front of goal, albeit against the run of play. It turned out to be the only goal of the game and Milton await the other semi final between Hailey Reserves and Hanborough Reserves to learn their opponents.