Midweek 23rd - 24th February

Kidlington 1 Wantage Town 6

After turning in an unexpectedly poor performance against Bicester last Saturday nobody was expecting a repeat performance against Wantage. In saying this, Wantage were a completely different kettle of fish quality wise compared to Bicester. On the night to many of Kidlington’s young side were to easily brushed aside as Wantage took total command of the match and won far too easily.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to take the lead. A left wing corner into the Kiddy box was poorly defended. The ball eventually falling to Tom Rowe at the back post, from where he steered the ball over the line for 1 – 0.

Kidlington had lined up in a more attacking formation with 3 at the back and what should have been a far more solid 5 in mid-field, but this just wasn’t working as wave after wave of Wantage attacks were left to rain down onto Kidlington’s defenders as the midfield again crumbled.

Tom McNamara made a good save from Danny Keen before Richard Claydon came close with an effort from about 20 yards which whistled past McNamara’s post.

As an attacking force Kidlington weren’t in it as everything that they tried to create was either broken down early by Wantage or poor passing lost them possession.

On the half hour Kidlington did manage one decent attempt, that coming from a Nathan Geary header after a decent free kick from Jordan Parker. Geary’s attempt was saved well by keeper Rob Durrant.

Wantage didn’t add their second until just before the interval. Richard Claydon chased a ball played through to him by Keen. The striker turned Brad Chalmers left then right and then as he was falling finished smartly past the advancing McNamara for 2 – 0.

H.T. 0 – 2.

Kidlington seemed to start a little better at the start of this half. Mark Baker forced his way past a couple of defenders and let fly with a decent shot, unfortunately the ball flashed wide of the far post.

This was basically as good as it got for the home side as in the 58nd minute it was 3 – 0. Another set play from Wantage saw the ball deflected to that man Tom Rowe again, and he finished smartly from about 8 yards out.

A cross shot from Kiddy’s Mark Flanagan nearly caught Wantage keeper Rob Durrant out on the hour when the ball deflected away off the top of the cross bar, but then it wasn’t long before it was 4 – 0. Kidlington’s defence was caught all at sea and when they failed to clear the ball Tom Molton saw an opportunity and seized it to fire an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.

Kidlington’s players appeared to have lost heart after this and in the 75th minute after more pressure from the visitors is was 5 – 0. Claydon was given time and space on the edge of the box and he curled a superb shot into the top right hand corner of the net, giving the diving McNamara no chance.

Kidlington made a couple of substitutions, but still they couldn’t turn the incessant tide of attacks by a Wantage side in full flow.

With 10 minutes to go Richard Claydon added their 6th to complete a richly deserved hatrick. He was left all alone inside the six yard box and when the ball was crossed into him he made no mistake with an unchallenged header.

In the last few minutes Wantage took their foot of the gas and Kidlington sneaked a consolation goal. It was a good one netted by the head of Skipper Danny Leggett at the far post after a cross from Parker.

Kidlington pushed on late on a a fierce drive from Adam Lovegrove beat Durrant but came back off the centre of the cross bar

The Referee finally called time on this Kidlington humiliation and everyone was able to retire to the bar to drown their sorrows. Injuries, the condition of the pitches and player unavailability are certainly showing the limitations of the Kidlington squad, but to perfectly honest a very good Wantage side brushed aside Kidlington’s challenge far too easily. Time for a re-evaluation and a rethink perhaps?