Midweek
Premier Division
Abingdon Town 2 – 1 Reading Town
If Reading Town could turn their chances into goals, even half of them, and play in a game lasting 85 minutes then their problems would be over.
For the third Tuesday in the past month, they conceded a late goal when losing 2-1 at Abingdon Town this week after being the better side for long periods. Prior to that, they had conceded a late equaliser to Wokingham & Bracknell at Larges Lane and then a last-gasp goal when losing 3-2 at Witney United. It also happened earlier in the season, home and away to Slimbridge. Manager Roddy Slater reckons these late goals have cost his men at least 10 points. But he was more concerned about his side's lack of goal power. "It's getting ridiculous," he said after the defeat at Culham Road. We have got to learn to take our chances. We could have had seven, but managed only the one." The one they did get came from Danny Seaward, and the club's leading scorer admitted: "I should have had a hat-trick. It wasn't my night, but it wasn't easy to stand up out there. But on another day I'm sure the goals will come."
A slippery pitch, caused by persistent rain, made conditions difficult and some players found it hard to pull out of tackles. Unfortunately, Town's young right-back Matt David paid the penalty. He was unlucky to collect two yellow cards and so was sent off for the second time in three matches. "I made two tackles and won the ball both times, but got booked for them," said David. Reading didn't appear to catch the referee on a good night. Mike Hancock got the ball in the Abingdon net just before half time, only to have it disallowed for offside, but it needed a longish consultation with his assist before the referee confirmed the decision. Then even an Abingdon fan thought that one of his side's players was offside in the build up to their late winner.
To add to Reading's misery, Demetrius Lawrence injured himself in trying to keep the ball out of the net and then, deeper into stoppage time, young substitute Reece Browne damaged his shoulder when crashing into an advertising hoarding behind the Abingdon goal. Midfield battler Pedro De Barros also twice needed treatment during the game. All three are doubtful for Saturday's tough home game with Shortwood United, as is experienced striker Marcus Richardson, who was forced off at half-time after scoring in the 3-1 win at Carterton last Saturday.
But defender Alex Salmon, who has missed the last two games through injury, is hoping to return.

Reports:

Hellenic League Floodlit Cup
Binfield 3-1 Wantage (Home View)
Monday night football was back at Binfield FC this week and the two teams put on a great footballing match for all to enjoy. With both teams looking to play attacking football and both sides in good recent form, an exciting encounter was highly anticipated. Binfield had the added incentive that Wantage had beaten them on consecutive weekends in November, inflicting their heaviest league defeat of the season to date by 3-1 and repeating that scoreline to knock the Moles out of the FA Vase, although the latter was a much closer affair with Binfield just 5 minutes from going through in normal time. The Moles were looking to take their recent good form away from home into this game and manager, Mark Tallentire made only a couple of changes from Saturday, with Paul Mortimer starting in place of James Partridge, who was rested. Danny Wing started on the left wing, after a good second half a few days earlier – and Wing brought that same performance into this game. A constant threat on the ball, but also showing great efforts to track back and win the ball back for his team. Wantage started this match the brighter team and as early as the 7th minute, the pacey Gavin Jones made a good run down the right and got in a shot. The Moles were creating chances though and Danny Wing, Luke Williams and Carl Davies all got into good positions, but saw their shots charged down or deflected away. But just as the Moles were coming to terms with Wantage’s pace, they fell behind. Ian Davies had toe poked a good chance wide, then seconds later Binfield lost the ball on the half way line. Wantage quickly moved it into the penalty area to Richard Claydon who ran on and shot across Weait. Weait parried well, but unluckily straight into the path of Danny Keen who gladly tapped in from 6 yards.
 However, Wantage’s lead was not to last for long. From a free kick 22 yards out, James Suarez stepped up and hit a superb curling effort around the wall and into the top corner, past the despairing dive of Gareth Tucker. Seconds later and Binfield should have taken the lead. Carl Davies got on the end of a Carl Withers corner and his downward header was just missed by Ian Davies right in front of the goal, when any touch would probably have taken the ball past Tucker.
HT:            1-1
Both sides came out after the break looking to push forward. Binfield were now creating the better chances and on 48, Danny Wing broke into the area and hit a left foot shot that Tucker got down quickly to save. 5 minutes later and Binfield had the lead for the first time on the night. After Tucker had pushed over Luke Williams’ shot, another Withers corner found Carl Davies, whose downward header beat the man on the post.
But the pattern of the game stayed the same, with both sides pressing for another goal. Midway through the half, Wantage could easily have been level twice over. First a break into the area from Claydon saw him beat Weait but was blocked by Gary Callaway with what appeared to be his hand. Luckily for Binfield, the referee waved play on and Ryan Millward slid in to scramble the ball away. Two minutes later, second half substitute Tom Austin found himself unmarked on the right edge of the penalty area, but this time though he beat Weait, Paul Mortimer was covering on the line and cleared the danger.
In between these chances, the Moles continued to create their own chances to go two up. Gary Sargeant had come on for the tiring Ian Davies and made an immediate impact. First he twisted and turned and found room for a shot, but saw it high and over. Then in the 83rd minute, he found himself 30 yards out and running at a retreating Wantage defence. Spotting Luke Williams in space on his left, Sargeant laid a perfect ball into his path and Williams scored his 3rd goal in his first 4 games for Binfield, hitting firmly across Tucker. The third goal all but finished Wantage’s challenge and Binfield still had time to create more chances, with Carl Davies just failing to connect with a right wing cross, then Sargeant found himself in space on the left, but Tucker touched his shot away from goal. So Binfield go into the last 8 of this cup to face Shrivenham or Newbury. They also look ahead to Saturday 19th, when they host league leaders Ardley United at Hill Farm Lane (KO 3pm)

Binfield 3-1 Wantage Town (Away View)
In an entertaining and fast moving game, both sides made good use of the ball, playing on a greasy but flat surface, the game being well managed by the Referee, Mr. P. Andrews. From the start, both sides looked comfortable on the ball, going forward. For Wantage, Danny Keen, returning after a three match ban, was the first to show after 12 minutes, just failing to connect with a cross from Richard Claydon, after good midfield work by Tom Malton. Three minutes later Binfield secured the first of several corners, which was well defended by the Wantage back line centred around Stuart Cattell, and featuring Reserve player Michael Lewis, making his first team debut at left back.  Binfield maintained the pressure, Carl Davies shooting into Gareth Tucker’s arms in the seventeenth minute, from close-in. Play switched to the other end, Richard Claydon shooting wide in the 20th minute, after a well worked move through midfield split the Binfield defence. A further Binfield corner was defended well by Lewis, before Danny Keen shot wide when well placed, after battling midfield work from Captain Tom Malton. On the half hour, Gavin Jones broke on the right, before setting up Richard Claydon, who drilled the ball just wide of the Binfield goal. Five minutes later it was Binfield’s winger Luke Williams who played in from the wing Ian Davies, who slipped the ball the wrong side of Gareth Tucker’s post. Once more the play moved to the other end of the pitch, Richard Claydon’s shot being well saved by Binfield keeper Dan Weait, but the ball fell into the path of Danny Keen, who made no mistake from 10 metres out, to put the visitors into the lead after 37 minutes. The lead was short-lived as three minutes later Wantage unnecessarily conceded a free lick on the edge of their box, the kick being excellently driven past Tucker by James Suarez to put the homeside back on level terms. The half ended with more Wantage defending as Binfiled pressed forward, Michael Lewis heading the ball away from goal, off of the line, to send both teams in for a well deserved break after an entertaining half.

HT: 1-1

Binfield maintained the pressure at the start of the second half, winger Luke Williams twice drawing good saves from Gareth Tucker in the Wantage goal in the first seven minutes of the second period of play. Binfield pressure won another corner in the 53rd minute, which was firmly headed in by an unchallenged Carl Davies, to give the homeside the lead. Wantage responded a minute later, when the ball broke to Danny Keen on the edge of the Binfield box, but the hardworking striker blasted the ball over the bar, when a free shot at goal beckoned. Again the play switched to the other end, Tucker saving well from Ian Davies, as the Wantage defence were caught flat-footed. In the 59th minute, Tom Butler elected to shoot wide from distance, with the Binfield defence caught napping, and Richard Claydon free in space, but Claydon could do no better a minute later, only managing to fire the ball into Dan Weait’s arms, when well placed. The outcome may have been different, when in the 70th minute, the Referee and his Assistant, failed to react to a handball in the Binfield penalty area, a Binfield defender waving the ball away with his arm as Richard Claydon broke through the Binfield back line. With Wantage pushing forward for the equaliser, Binfield were given more freedom to break away, Carl Davies shooting wide with the Wantage defence absent, in the 79th minute. In the 85th minute, Luke Williams broke away and outpaced the Wantage defence, this time drilling the ball past Tucker to seal the game for the homeside.        Wantage, despite playing well in phases of the game, lacked the robustness to break down the build–up play of their fast moving opponents, and in the end Binfield were deservedly the winners. Wantage travel to South Kilburn in the 3rd round of the Challenge Cup, sponsored by Bluefin, on Saturday, before returning to League action at Alfredian Park, next Tuesday, against Flackwell Heath.    

Reports:       2

Oxfordshire Senior Cup QF

Kidlington 2-2 Oxford City Nomads 5-4 Pens To Kidlington
A fantastic game at Yarnton Road played out by two very good sides saw Kidlington eventually come through after the lottery of penalty kicks. If ever you needed to understand what a run in this competition is all about you should have watched these teams go at it. The match was full of everything that you might want to see in local football, skill, determination, endeavour and an absolute wonder strike from Kidlington’s Mark Baker. Nomads were on top in the early exchanges as their free running forwards gave Kidlington’s defence a hard time. The Nomads were very eager to get the ball forward and this certainly had Kidlington on the back foot. After 10 minutes or so Kidlington started to get into their stride with Mark Baker causing all sorts of problems especially down the right flank. Nothing really tested either keeper until the 25th minute when Kynan Isaac gave Nomads the lead. Some good and incisive short passing gave Isaac a site of goal from about 10 yards out and he buried his shot past Tom McNamara for 1 – 0. Kidlington upped their game after this and were soon level. A corner from Baker was met by Jimmy Deabill with a powerful header. The ball arrowed past keeper Joe White and Anaclet Odhiambo was about 2 yards out where he got his head to the it and glanced it home. There was plenty more good football played by both sides and it could have swung either way after this. However some wayward finishing, especially by Nomads and several decent saves by both teams respective keepers kept it level.
HT: 1-1
More of the same was the order of the day after the break. Both sides were going for it in attack, but defensively both were holding firm. That was until the irrepressible Mark Baker got in on the act once again. Baker picked the ball up on half way and ran at the heart of the Nomads defence where left a couple of players in his wake before hitting a bullet of a shot from 25 yards. His shot crashed into the far post and off it into the net. White in the City goal could only watch as it passed him in less than a blink of an eye. This goal is certainly the best I have seen this season and Kiddie now led 2 – 1. Nomads rallied after this. Some more long balls up to their forwards gave them the opportunity to force a couple of corners. When one of these wasn’t cleared very far the ball went out to the right and was hooked back in. There was some hesitation in the usually rock solid Kiddie defence and James Knight sneaked in to get his head to the ball, it looped up and into the far corner of the net for 2 – 2 on 56 minutes.The frantic pace the game was being played at calmed a little after this goal. The general football being played was still excellent though and considering the wet conditions under foot it was a credit to both sides. Kidlington’s management tried to inject some extra imputes to the match with the introduction of winger Tom Woodbridge for Ben Willoughby after 65 minutes. This very nearly paid dividends in the 73rd minute. Woodbridge managed to shimmy a defender at the far post and get a good shot away. Only a fantastic one handed save from White prevented a certain goal. This was the closest any one came to scoring in normal time and we had to settle for 30 minutes of extra time. During this period both teams were still plugging away, but on the now very muddy and energy sapping surface you could see the players were rapidly tiring. Nomads James Faulkner had a shot from distance saved by Tom McNamara before Deabill sent a shot over Whites bar. Baker set up Odhiambo, but some excellent defending by Joel Meade snuffed the chance out. The clock was ticking and the rain eventually stopped falling as we neared the dreaded penalty shoot out. Time was finally up with neither side able to find the winner so penalties it was.
The kicks were taken at the club house end and Kiddies Danny Mason was first up to the plate. Mason crashed his shot into the net for 1 – 0. Faulkner was up first for Nomads and he put his kick onto the bar, so Kiddie had the advantage. Skipper Danny Leggett was successful for the home side as was Jermaine Ferriera for the visitors. Jordan Parker slotted his pen calmly away as did Jack Longford for Nomads. Deabill then saw his kick well saved by keeper White which drew his side right back into the match. Adam Morris scored for City and it was 3 – 3. Odhiambo made no mistake with his kick and the pressure was all on Joel Meade. The big lad was calm and finished sweetly. This now forced sudden death. Ben Weedon placed the ball on the spot and hit it with plenty of power, but sent it over the bar. This gave young Pablo Haysham a chance for glory. It all proved too much for him and he followed suit by skying his kick. Woodbride was up next. White had saved well from him in open play but what could he do now. Woody sent the keeper the wrong way and Kiddie led once more. The pressure was now all on James Knight and to be honest he didn’t look to confident, however he mustered a decent shot, but Tommy McNamara had guessed right and got both hands to the ball to block it. McNamara was an instant hero and mobbed by his team mates. Kidlington now await to here their fate in the semi final of Oxfordshire’s Premier competition. This was a truly enjoyable match for so many reasons.Obviously I probably see it that way as Kidlington won, but some of the football played was of the highest order and this on a pitch which was ever deteriating. Still it’s semi final time again now and let’s hope we can go one better than last time we were there and make it all the way to the final - COYG!

Wycombe Senior Cup
Flackwell Heath 1-0 Holyport
The only thing separating these two sides over 90 minutes was two penalties, Flackwell dispatched theirs in the 2nd minute and Holyport missed theirs and the rebound in the 75th minute. Flackwell had drafted Riccardo Cannon back in on loan from Beaconsfield Sycob a sign of just what this game meant to them, where as Port skipper Reeves was missing due to a gash to the head received on Saturday against Chinnor. The game started with Flackwell winning a penalty which was duly dispatched and in fairness it was Flackwell who looked the more dangerous of the sides in the first half as they looked it hit Holyport on the counter attack. In the 29th minute Flackwell’s Danny Jordan was through and tried to lob Ports Carter but put placed his effort wide, three minutes later Carter pulled of a fantastic one handed save to keep the score at 1-0.Holyport had matched Flackwell for quality of play in the first half but it was the final ball that was letting them down.
HT:            1-0
The second half was different affair as Holyport where the better side and had numerous chances to get the equaliser, the game was by passing the ref as he nearly awarded a goal when the ball landed on the roof of Flackwell’s net from a Deverall cross.In the 75th minute Handscomb put Driver through and after going past the keeper he was brought down by the last defender.  A penalty was awarded and the Flackwell defender went unpunished.  Flackwell’s Sam Southerden saved Handscomb’s penalty with his feet and then as Handscomb volleyed the rebound goal bound Southerden saved this with his chest and Flackwell cleared the danger. Holyport continued to press and in the last minute of the game Ackerman put Driver through and with only the keeper to beat his touch was too heavy and Southerden collected the ball.  Port had one more half chance as Handscomb headed goal bound Rolfe attempted a diving header but the ball went agonisingly past his reach. Flackwell move into the Semi Final but once again Holyport more than matched their higher opponents.
Reports:         2

Total Reports:         5