Week 4 Match Reports

Premier Division

The top of the Premier Division condensed together as the chasing pack stole a march on their rivals at the top of the league. A rare 0-0 draw saw Hailey and RAF Brize Norton only take a point, as Brize dropped points for the first time this season but will likely come away the happier of the two sides after taking a point off the reigning champions. Even more so after a goal line clearance prevented Jack Wood from stealing all three points for Hailey in the dying moments of the game.

That result left the door open for everyone behind, with Hanborough and Carterton United duly obliging by taking their second victories of the season.

Enstone travelled to Carterton, depleted due to their indiscipline last week, and found themselves quickly behind, as Jack Bellenger and Connor Townsend scored one each early on. Half an hour had passed when Enstone got themselves back into the game as Reece Bayliss pounced on a poor back pass to beat the keeper and slot the ball home. Two minutes before half time and Enstone were level. Although down to ten men due to a sin bin, Bayliss fired a long-range free kick, which went straight over the top of the keeper to drag Enstone in all square at the break.
The second half was more even but Carterton proved more clinical in front of goal. Enstone missed their chances, whilst Bellenger and Townsend took theirs to each double their tally. The game was put to bed from the spot by Liam Felstead, although the penalty award itself was somewhat contentious. Felstead’s third goal in three games secured a 5-2 win and third place by the end of the day.

Jack Morton scored the only goal of the game as Hanborough beat Hook Norton. The three points lifting Hanborough into fourth place and a point off Brize at the top.

Charlbury Town have their first win of the season after a narrow win over Stonesfield. Raffy Rice scored his fifth goal of the season for Stonesfield but Archie Hawley and Craig McCallum’s goals earned Town their first win of the season.

Division One

Cassington Rangers and Tower Hill both jumped four places in the league after important wins against Combe and Hanborough Reserves on Saturday.

Tower Hill, with their best performance of the season so far, swept aside Hanborough Reserves 3-0. Tim Banks had them ahead at the break after a fine cross from Jack Scott had found him in the box. The doubled their lead at the start of the second half. Tom Costley slotting home a penalty into the bottom left corner. The temperature turned up after that with some feisty challenges coming in as Hanborough tried to insert themselves into the game. The points were wrapped up in style though as Jamie Harris’ neat ball over the top released Cody Davies and his perfectly placed cross invited Adam Bolley to dive through the air, meet the ball with his head and fire it into the Hanborough net to send Tower fourth.

Cassington continued their recent impressive form with a hard-fought victory over Combe. Ryan Stockford scored for Combe in the first half but Cassington were ahead at the break thanks to Dean Mays and Neal Hobday’s goals. Elliot Want scored in the second half for Combe but Aaron Pyke’s goal in the 66th minute was enough to take the points, as Cassington moved into fifth.

Bampton moved into third place with a victory over bottom placed Spartan Rangers. Harry Davies and James Haley both struck twice each as Bampton returned to winning ways. Arun White hit back for Rangers in the 4-1 reverse.

Tom Williams’ solitary goal ensured Witney Royals made it three wins in a row as they got the better of Aston at Burwell Meadow. The result inflicted a first defeat of the season on Aston as Royals moved into second place.

Chadlington are still at 100% after a 3-2 win against Heyford Athletic. James Andrews and Alfie Peachey both scored for the second week in a row for Chadlington but Filipe Bonito and Robert Gosling hit back for Heyford. Ethan Bennett got a third for Chadlington though to make it four wins out of four.

Eynsham SSC finally have their first win of the season, overcoming fellow promoted side Brize Norton. Dylan Briggs got his third goal of the season for Brize but that was as good as it got as Eynsham proved more effective in front of goal. Zack Neville, Ben Oates, Malek Chok and Stephen Chapple all scored once each in a 4-1 win which drags Eynsham off the foot of the table.

Ducklington received a walkover victory against Hailey Reserves.

Division Two

Wootton jumped to the top of the table this week after a fine performance was matched on the score sheet with a 5-0 victory over CHQ United. Despite the best efforts of the United keeper, Wootton found the net with regularity, including a hat-trick for Jamie McCuaig. Theodoros Keravnou-Flatman and Jack Peas added the extras as Wootton moved three points clear at the top of the league.

Moreton Rangers Reserves are hot on their heels though, also on 100%, but having played a game less. Match report comes from Moreton Rangers.
Moreton started in control of the ball but didn’t look likely to score. Sieges defence handling Moreton’s attackers with some ease although Kieron Harte on the left looked the likeliest to get the better of the 7ft Siege defender. Whilst sturdy at the back, Moreton were allowing sieges back line to play their direct tactics far too easily. One ball over the top too many and indecision at the back allowed Chris Hirons to bag a 7th of the season. A few tasty challenges and a turned down penalty shout for Moreton ended with Martin Tomes shown a sin bin. Ringing ears from the Moreton boys saw a much more positive 10 men come out flying in the 2nd half. Ball from Kyle Ellery down the left to the Evanescent Kieron Harte allowed him to the by-line. Simple square pass to Lee Brooks. 1-1. Moreton’s tails up. Siege looking a little shocked and shaky at the back which allowed Moreton to move the ball quicker than they previously had. Javan Nurse creating problems down the right-hand side. Again, hitting the by-line, square ball into Kieron Harte who turned on a sixpence and slotted into the bottom corner. Turnaround complete. Not quite. Siege got back on the ball and the direct tactics causing problems against a tiring Moreton defence. One clever bit of play from Chris Hirons fooled Kyle Ellery and the tiring defender flicked heels. Penalty Siege. 2-2. Both teams tiring it looked like a share of the spoils. However, second half substitute Louis Brown who had started causing problems down the left-hand side atoned for a shocking headed miss 5 minutes before with a mazy run down the left-hand side. Leaving the defender in his wake he showed the composure he had previously lacked and squared the ball to an onrushing Callum Peters who calmly slotted home. A result which Siege will feel hard done by for all their endeavours but probably just about justified on the balance of play in the second half. The return at London road is certainly one to mark on the calendar!

Leafield inflicted a first defeat of the season on Faringdon Town Development at the weekend as they made it two wins from four at the start of the campaign. Gustavo Alessi’s brace and David Silva’s goal earned them the three points. Andy Makepeace replied for Faringdon but it got no better than that for them as Faringdon forfeited top spot.

Milton Reserves have their first win of the season, thrashing bottom side Chadlington Reserves at home. Two goals each for Dan Hooton and Jason Hester did the damage. Jacob Hazelwood replied for Chadlington but a Jake Newland goal added some gloss to the score line for a 5-1 win.

Yarnton and FC Mills played out their first draws of the season, cancelling each other out in a frantic 2-2 draw. Henry Payne and Finley Ludlow scored for the home side with Jamie Aust and Perry Letten hitting back for Mills.

Witney Royals Reserves received a walkover victory against Freeland.

Division Three

Three teams still boast 100% records in Division Three as September draws to a close.

Aston maintain their hold on top spot after beating Tower Hill Reserves by the odd goal in five. Darren Light and Jason Bufton scored for Tower Hill but a Reece Waine hat-trick stole the headlines and the points as Aston escaped with their fourth win of the season.

Heyford Athletic Reserves are in their slipstream though, second only by virtue of a marginally lesser goal difference. Their 3-0 win over Eynsham Reserves keeping them second in the table.

Harry Edwards’ hat-trick was the main story coming out of Deer Park Rangers’ 7-1 win over Spartan Reserves. Rangers recording the same score line for the second week running after last week’s victory over Leafield Reserves. Harry Edwards’ early brace gave them all the momentum they needed, with Ben Madley’s 25th minute strike making it 3-0 and that’s how it stayed until the break. Goals came at regular intervals throughout the second half with Ben Delnevo and Jack Hamblin scoring before the hour mark. Edwards completed his hat-trick on 63 minutes with Ethan Phillips Richardson completing the scoring twelve minutes from time. Kam King grabbed a consolation goal for Leafield but they fall to the bottom of the table as a result of the defeat.

Bampton and Sherborne got their first draws of the season as neither side could find the all-important winning goal. Alex Timms strike for Bampton was cancelled out by Ben Law’s strike for Sherborne and both sides had to settle for a point.

Stonesfield Reserves and Carterton Town failed to make ground on the sides above them as they battled out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Stonesfield Playing Field. Harrison Connolly and Daniel Taylor scored for the home side. James Harvey and Josh Henry continued their fine goal scoring form by scoring one each to grab a point for Carterton.

Faringdon A and Kingham Reserves played out an entertaining game which neither side deserved to lose, and incidentally, neither of them did. Both sides played good football throughout with Kingham taking the lead in the first half after a corner was parried by the Faringdon keeper and skipper Dale Norris was on hand to poke the ball home from close range. Kingham should have been two ahead, Jamie Youngson blasting over after being put through on goal by an audacious flick from Lewis Pretorius. Brad Smith then went through but his shot could only find the bushes as Faringdon escaped again. Faringdon then made them pay just before half-time. This time a Faringdon corner was the catalyst for success as Kenny Mortimer-Jones flicked on at the near post and over the defender on the line. Faringdon were the stronger of the two in the second half but despite their possession and dominance, they failed to really trouble Dom Rickard in the Kingham net.