Witney & District Reports - Week 25

By john smyth

By David Evans

Hailey rescue point in Enstone battle.

Premier Division

Table topping Hailey lost their 100% record but dramatically preserved their unbeaten record this
season with an added time equaliser to snatch a point against Enstone. On a difficult surface good
football was hard to come by despite both side’s best efforts and a strong midfield battle made for a
feisty and hard fought encounter. Arguably, Enstone had the better of the opening exchanges but
found themselves behind in the 13th minute as Freddie Buckingham earned himself some space on
the edge of the box and rolled the ball into the far corner past the outstretched arms of Josh Hunt in
the Enstone goal.
Enstone responded brightly to going behind and found joy on each wing as they utilised the whole
pitch. In the 30th minute Enstone equalised. A wonderful chipped ball beat the Hailey defensive line
and Aaron Witham burst onto the ball from the right wing and fired the ball low and hard beyond Cody
Davies in the Hailey goal and they were level at the break.
Start of the second half saw Hailey take more control but lacked a clinical touch around the box. One
particular loose pass was cleared by Enstone and Nathan Bott burst through from halfway. He was
tracked all the way by Jordan Cormack and as Bott entered the area, Cormack put in a clumsy
challenge to fell Bott and earn a penalty. Bott picked himself up and calmly sent Davies the wrong
way to give Enstone the lead in the 56th minute. The game continued to remain back and forth, both
sides awarded free kicks around the area but failed to find the target or test the keeper with any effort.
Momentum shifted in the last 20 minutes as Hailey camped inside the Enstone defensive third.
Constant pressure created multiple chances. One free kick cannoned off the bar with Cormack
pushing a header wide from the rebound when just 3 yards out, another strike hit the post after a
deflection and Josh Hunt made a couple of good saves. The clock ticked over into injury time and in
the final minute of added on time a curved ball into the box found Jack Wood at the back post who
brilliantly headed over Hunt to set off jubilant scenes. The final whistle sounded less than a minute
later, Enstone the first side this season to take points off Hailey.

Stonesfield are back within two points of Hailey after a narrow victory over Spartan Rangers. Matt
Timms scored for Spartan but centre back Mike Phipps scored for Stonesfield before Carry Rice
netted the winner in the 2-1 victory to keep the pressure on Hailey.

Hanborough lost ground on both Stonesfield and Hailey after they were thumped 6-2 by Carterton FC
Rangers. Kevin Davies hit a hat-trick to put Rangers well in control. He was brilliantly backed up by
Jamie MacDonogh’s brace and James Barker rounded off the scoring for Rangers as they secured
the three points that brought them level with Hanborough in the league. Josh Brookes scored both
goals in Hanborough’s response but Hanborough slipped to their fifth league defeat of the season.

Division One

The top two in Division One continue to apply pressure on each other as they both secured victories
at the weekend. Freeland had an easy afternoon as they earned a walkover victory against
Bletchington but Minster had to endure a six goal encounter against Kingham All Blacks. Yusuf
Okunade and Toby Hitchman scored goals for Kingham but Minster were able to battle back for all
three points thanks to goals from Alex Stubbs, Chris Hirons, Ryan Colleton, and Dan Brearley for a 4-
2 win. Minster still sit two points behind Freeland with only three games left to play.

Bampton thrashed Chadlington to jump two league places up to fifth. Regan Pritchard and Chris
Laurence both scored doubles to put Bampton firmly in control. Lee Woodward replied for Chadlington
but further goals from Scott Haley and Dan O’Shea gave Bampton a 6-1 win.

Hailey Reserves grabbed their third win of the season as they crushed Wootton Sports 5-1. Luke
Perkins, Mark Edmonds, Kieron Fallon and Gary Mitchell (2) gave Hailey an important three points as
they look to get out of the bottom two. Dan Mundy-Court’s goal nothing more than a mere consolation.
Hailey’s victory puts them just two points behind Wootton as we hit the final stretch in the season.

Division Two

It's as you were at the top of Division Two with the top 3 all winning.
Leaders RAF Brize Norton probably ened any hopes Combe had of promotion with a hard fought 3-1 win. The viisitors took a deserved through an Archie Hamilton spot kick. But the home side hit back after the break, leading scorer Michael Flavell made it 17 for the season, to add Mahair Allam and Mark Williams stikes

Aston remain in 2nd spot, albeit 7 points behind after a narrow 2-1 over near neighbours Ducklington. With both sides missing loads of players it was always going to be a scrappy affair. Duck took the lead when Adam Bolley headed home from close range. But anither header this time from Aaron Robins drew Aston level. The second half saw chances created at both end, but was won by Lewis Scott whose 40 yard free kick was completely missed by Danny Wells in the home goal.

Fratellos maintained their 100% league record and pretty much assured relegation for Hook Norton Res by winning 8-3. There were hat tricks from Aiden Miller and Dave Slattery and 1 each from Levi Cox and Kurtis Sharkey. For Hooky, Jay Mair, Max Bayliss and Dom Hemmings all netted.

Division Three

Eynsham SSC just about kept up their outside promotion with 1 5-3 win over Chadlington Res. There were 2 apiece for Ben Oates and Stephen Chappell with Jack Knight adding the 5th. For Chad, Iuri Esteves, Gus Boeing and Ollie Jordan were on the mark.

I single goal from Dan Hootton was enough for Milton Res to defeat FC MIlls.

Division Four

Champions Hatherop Res continued their great run since the New Year running out 4-2 winners over Faringdon Town B. There were doubles for Rob Malcolm_Stewart and Dave Legg against his former side. LeGG now ha 23 for the campaign. For the home side Jamie Broadfield and Harry Merritt scored.

Freeland Res were able to call on a couple of 1st team regulars to boost their side at Stonesfield Res and they ran out 7-0 victors to cement 2nd spot. Rob Keylock grabbed a hat trick from a total distiance of around 8 yards. Ethan Simlett scored a brace and there was 1 apiece for Doug Mingham and Jerome Carbon.

The other 2 sides in the promotion battle cancelled each other out as Witney Royals Res and Leafield Res drew 1 each. Ollie Nolan's goal for ROyals was cancelled out by Andy Bedwell. The sides are 3rd and 4th.

Where next?

Witney & District Reports - Week 26 Aston Narrowly beaten in Shield Semi Final By David Evans

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