27th February

Premier Division

Bicester Town 2-5 Binfield

This must have been the wettest game we have played since the old days! The pitch was boggy and had standing water all over it but it made for an exciting game – well exciting for Binfield because they scored three times in the first 16 minutes. Callum Whitty was quick off the mark in the 4th minute and Ian Davies added two more on 6 and 16 minutes.

The home side were wishing that their groundsman had held sway over the referee who decided the game should go ahead but they would have felt differently had two breakaway chances been converted before Davies got the third. The conditions were making the game very exciting and you could determine where all the play was with Suarez and Withers in the centre and Davies and Scotty Williams over on the left covered in mud and James Partridge and Tim Walsh still pristine white on the right!

As the half wore on Bicester came more into the game, a great test of their character at 0-3. The challenges were committed but never dangerous and the home side had more chances to get one back but Callaway, relishing his captain’s role was having another great game at both ends of the pitch. Ryan Millward was a tour de force too and with Dave Fenton in full flow Bicester were always going to find it difficult breaking through.

Half time arrived with no further score and the rain that had lashed down intermittently was now giving way to blue skies.

Binfield were still staring at the skies when Kyle McCoy nipped onto some lax defending and got one back for Bicester immediately after half time. The comeback was short lived as Callum Whitty and Ian Davies continued to give the home defence plenty to think about and despite the conditions underfoot, Suarez and Withers were playing some good football.

The game was over as a contest just before the hour. The Bicester keeper made a great punched clearance from a corner but as the ball came back in Davies managed to get his head to it and loop it over the keeper for 1-4. There was a suspicion of offside but the assistant was confident in his decision.

McClurg and Tallentire rang the changes and replaced Scott Williams who had run his socks off with Danny Wing. Callum Whitty made way for James Rogers and Steve Nebbett replaced Tim Walsh. The fresh legs were helpful and particularly Nebbett’s control in midfield and with just a couple of minutes to go the Moles created another chance for Danny Wing to score the fifth.

Bicester showed great resilience and when they were awarded a free kick in injury time Tommy Hayday struck it beautifully round the wall and just inside the post. Bicester deserved the goal.

Hook Norton 0 Shrivenham 3

Mark Boyland’s first match in sole charge of Hooky saw the Brewery Boys fall to their third consecutive defeat in a row in a match were the visitors always looked the more potent in front of goal and took advantage of their chances, whilst the largely inexperienced home team were undone by two well executed set pieces and their own sloppy defending.

Whilst a number of nearby fixtures fell victim to the effects of the extremely wet weather on heavily water- laden pitches, The Bourne pitch was, however, pronounced fit by Cheltenham referee Joe Mizzi shortly before kick off but, as the match wore on and with continuous heavy rain in the second half, it ended up with the appearance of the beach at Weston- super- Mare when the tide is out!

It took Shrivenham only 6 minutes to open their account when a left wing corner to the far post was headed in unopposed by Richard Saunders. The visitors continued to dominate and their second goal was virtually a replica of the first goal when a corner from the same side, once again to the far post, was hooked home by the foot of James Blake on 36 minutes. Then, with just 2 minutes of the first half remaining, Saunders was allowed to run from the edge of the penalty area by a lethargic Hooky defence as a result of which he had a simple task to slot the ball past Joe White.

Half Time: Hook Norton 0 Shrivenham 3

With the cushion of a 3 goals’ lead and with torrential rain falling on a surface that resembled a skating rink, the visitors could afford to take their feet off the pedal and so they did. Nevertheless, Hooky did show greater purpose and resolve, with Mark Muddyman replacing Danny Poole and, although they rarely looked like scoring, they performed much better in defence. Undoubtedly, the weather won the second half, with no further goals ensuing!

Reading Town 1 Witney United 0

Mark Hughes got Town back to winning ways with his first-half goal, but it was a mighty-close call at Scours Lane on Saturday.
Hughes’ header was only just over line before being kicked away, but a referee’s assistant was up with play and confirmed the goal.
And then as Town hung desperately on to their lead, keeper Chris Grace was left standing as Ani Odhiambo struck a tremendous shot that hit the inside of the post and rebounded across goal before being hacked clear.
So at the end of the day Town were relieved to get the three points that keeps them four points clear in the Hellenic League title race.
But Almondsbury remain hot on their heels, following their 5-3 win at Fairford.
“After two defeats, it was a vital game to win,” said manager Colin Millard. “I was very pleased with our performance. This was more like the Reading Town of old.”
Millard admitted, however, it was a game of two halves, with his side having the better of the first half and Witney the second.
With Dean Thomas leading the attack following his return from Ascot United, Town certainly played with a lot more purpose in the opening 45 minutes than they had when losing to Ardley and Highworth in their previous two games.
Aaron Parfitt caused the Witney defence all sorts of problems, while Gianluca Riccio won some important challenges in midfield.
But, despite forcing several corners, they again lacked power in front of goal, with James Clark and Parfitt both getting in soft efforts that were easily dealt with by keeper
The pressure, however, finally paid off in the 33rd minute when Hughes, who was skippering the side, got his head to Parfitt’s left-wing corner. The ball appeared to be handled by a Witney defender before dropping just over the line and referee Sean Smith may well have awarded a penalty had not his assistant confirmed the goal.
Reading, having played with the wind in
their favour, deserved their lead, but they
didn’t get many chances to double it in the second half as they were pushed on to the back foot.
Witney looked more dangerous in attack with the tricky Odhiambo causing them plenty of problems. In addition to hitting the post, he nearly set up a goal, but Hughes managed to hoof the ball away from the goalmouth.
Michael Buck and sub Graeme Smith, just seconds before the final whistle, also threw themselves into vital challenges as Witney looked all set to grab an equaliser.
Town will be looking to make it two home wins in a row when they entertain Shrivenham on Saturday.

Division One West

Clanfield 4 Lydney Town 0

This game survived two pitch inspections before getting the go ahead. Sensible communication between the respective Team Managers saw the visitors waiting at their departure point whilst local referee Ben James carried out a mid day inspection and declared the pitch playable. Torrential rain for the next hour placed the game seriously in doubt but Match Referee Steve Dolton decided to start the game,a decision appreciated by both sets of players and which proved to be entirely justified.

The visitors began well and Clanfield keeper Chris Brain saved brilliantly turning a long range shot over the bar whilst at the other end defender Karl Dickinsons header hit the bar. Exchanges were even until the 24th minute when a good move saw Eddie Everett put Clanfield ahead. The lead was doubled in the 40th minute when a good pass from teenager Alex Bush put Adam Little in to score at the second attempt.

Despite the interval scoreline the visitors were well in the game but their task was made very difficult in the 50th minute when another pass from Bush put Craig Mays on a run in to the area where he was upended. Mays got up to convert the resultant penalty.The scoring was complete in the 58th minute when Dickinson’s header from a Steve Olphert set piece was turned in from a narrow angle by Little.

The heavy pitch was taking its toll on the players but both teams had taken a refreshing attitude to the task and provided an entertaining encounter.

A word also for the third team on the park. Steve Dolton refereed firmly, whilst making allowances for the conditions. He was ably assisted with this task, by his Assistants Glyn Evans and Richard Middlecote.    

Headington Amateurs 8 - 1 Cirencester United
Hafiz 15, 41 Griffin 85
L.Cuff 28, 34(p), 51
Jacobs 53, 69
OG 60

This game was effectively over after the first half hour as Headington romped to their biggest win of the season, Luke Cuff notching a hat trick for the second week running.

With the pitch in near perfect condition despite the weather Headington set about opening up the visitors defence & were one up in 15 minutes through Aftab Hafiz from close range. In the face of determined defending they had to wait until the 28th minute for their second, Luke Cuff driving a low shot home after his initial strike had rebounded from a post. Six minutes later & Cuff made it three from the penalty spot effectively killing off the game. With half time approaching Hafiz had his second & Headington's fourth, again from close range after Olly Zaja's shot was parried by Lee Bailey.

Half time 4 - 0

After Zaja had hit a post Cuff completed his hat trick with a header from Aaron Williams cross in the 51st minute & two minutes later Shaun Jacobs made it six with a fine chipped effort from the edge of the penalty area. A hapless Cirencester conceded a seventh to an own goal on the hour mark before Jacobs made it eight, dribbling round the 'keeper after 69 minutes. Hafiz missed a penalty for Headington before Cirencester's Dave Griffin scored a consolation goal with five minutes left.         

Purton 2 Easington Sports 3

Two goals in the space of 2 minutes early in the second half paved the way for the visitors to take all three points at the Red House.

This was Purton's second defeat in a row after a 17 match unbeaten run and a win in this game would have put them back on top of the table. Purton went into the game with Fuller (ill) and Avenall (working) but welcomed back Allan Webb and Steven May.

On a pitch that was heavy after all the rain Purton got themelves in front after 28 minutes when a long ball from the back by Townsend was misjudged by the visitors keeper and Cadden had a simple tap in.

Right on half time though Howkins took advantage as Purton lost posession and leveled the match.

On 60 minutes Howkins again netted for the visitors as Purton dithered on the edge of the 18 yard box and two minutes later the same player completed a hat-trick slotting home a penalty kick.

Bowen and May came on as subs for Purton but Purton could only manage one more goal netted by Day who ran through to score Purton's second but it was not enough to save the game.

With no match on the 6th of March Purton will have to wait till the 13th March when they will travel to play North Leigh Reserves.

Division One East

Eton Wick 0 Milton United 2

Milton produced a superb all round team performance to come away with the points from Haywards Mead on Saturday with a further 2 goals from Ian Concannon.

The visitors had to make some changes to the line up due to suspensions, and new signing Matt Midwinter joined regular Liam Thorne in the centre of defence and Sean Kellher returned from injury to replace Kirk Wimmoth, and Warren McCabe made a rare start replacing Danny Issaiew.

These changes meant that it took time for Milton to settle and they almost paid the price when a mistake by Ben Taylor allowed Eton’s Ryan McCullach through on goal but his effort was cleared. The home side forced the pace in the first 10 minutes and were rewarded with several corners but although they had the height advantage they could not make this count.

Milton gradually got into the match and again it was Ryan Williams in midfield providing the through balls for the ever willing Anthony Alleyne to run onto. It was one of these balls that brought the first goal in the 32nd minute when Alleyne picked up a ball on the edge of the box and was brought down for a penalty. IAN CONCANNON duly slotted home the kick.

The reshaped Milton defence looked a little nervous as the half drew on and the skilful play of McCullach Harris and the flicks of Hickey caused them a few problems but with Thorre marshalling his back four well they held out until half time.

HALF TIME 0-1

As so often this season Milton seemed a different side in the second period and despite the heavy pitch started to play good football playing the ball around well and creating chances. They went further ahead in the 48th minute when another good through ball found IAN CONCANNON free just outside the box for him to run on and score easily. Both the away full backs pushed forward whenever possible and this restricted the home side to trying to play the long ball to their large centre forward but the visitors coped well with this ploy.

Milton should have gone further ahead when Concannon had two further chances to score, the first produced a fine save from Banfry in the Eton goal and the second went just wide of the upright.

Eton got back into the game in the final 10 minutes pressurising the Milton goal but could not break down the strong defence.

After the game the Milton manager Bobby Wilkinson said he was very pleased with the all-round team effort as he knew it would be a difficult place to come and win and the fact that we have now kept two clean sheets in a row is also encouraging.