MIDWEEK MATCH REPORTS
Cup Competition’s
Bluefin Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup
Ardley United 6 - 1 Letcombe
Challenge Cup holders Ardley were too strong for the division one outfit Letcombe in this the 2nd round of the Hellenic Challenge cup sponsored by Bluefin Insurance Brokers. A hat trick by Danny Bone and goals by Ben Milner Troy Bryan and Murray Nicholls gave the home side a comfortable win and progression to the 3rd round where they face Chalfont Wasps.
It took only 8 minutes for Danny Bone to net his first when the ball rebounded off the post, a scramble on the line and a toe poke home gave the home side the early lead. Bone’s second was much more impressive, with centre midfielder Stuart Bridges playing the ball wide right to Dean Smith, who crossed the ball into the box for Bone to meet it with a flying header. The writing was on the wall for Letcombe who were starved of the ball by a slick passing Ardley. With half time approaching Ben Milner made it three when he headed home from a corner.
HT:            3 – 0
Ten minutes into the second half Troy Bryan made it onto the score sheet in spectacular style. A corner was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area Bryan met it on the volley hooking the ball home with his left peg. With Ardley now in rampant mood Danny Bone took his chance to register his hat trick. Picking up the ball in mid field he beat three defenders before lashing it home from the edge of the area. Letcombe would not give up and when Mark Brind caught the Ardley defence lacking he made no mistake to bring the visitors some deserved joy. Ardley wrapped up a good nights work three minutes before time when Dean Smith whipped in another cross for Murray Nicholls to head home number 6.    

Clanfield 1 - 3 Shortwood United
On a playing surface which due to below zero temperatures was getting harder throughout Clanfield and Shortwood United finally got to settle their outstanding 2nd Round tie at the third time of asking and it was the Premier Division side that prevailed despite a good effort from the Home Side.
Alan Rodgers and Karl Dickenson were added to the Clanfield bench to join Matt Cheetham and Callum Miller as the Robins started with the same team that had played against Launton Sports on Saturday. Clanfield started confidently but it was Shortwood who took the lead when Andy Hoskins headed home from a right wing cross in the 9th minute. Both sides went close before the visitors doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Harry Etheridge shot home from 15 yards. The home side responded well and were unlucky not to pull a goal back when a fierce cross by Dean Mays was deflected goalward only to be brilliantly saved by the Shortwood keeper.
HT:            0 – 2
Clanfield were back in to their stride early in the second half and the Visitors keeper was again to the rescue saving with his feet from Craig Mays as the Robins continued to press without success. They were made to pay in the 61st minute when a cross by Luke Bennyworth was converted by Matt Green for the Visitors third. Craig Mays pulled a goal back in the 85th minute and although it did not affect the final outcome it was a deserved reward for the Robins
efforts.
Managers Verdict; "Our performance was good, I thought that we acquitted ourselves very well against very good Premier Division opponents. They are a very good side and deserved the win. I think that both teams did well in the deteriorating conditions and both will be relieved that the tie has finally been disposed of"

Clanfield 1 –3 Shortwood United (Visitor’s View)
Highworth Next
Shortwood went through to the 3rd Round of the League Cup at Clanfield on Wednesday Evening and will now meet in form Highworth Town at Meadowbank on Saturday 29th January.
Both sides coped well with a hard frost bound pitch and served up an entertaining affair. John Evans pleasure at a good team performance was tempered by niggling injuries that saw Pugh (back), Casey (ankle) and Parrott (ankle) all leave the field. The team had been reshuffled and players rested to give members of his squad a good run out and saw the debut of Adam Thomas and Scott Mason. Mason showed an assured touch while Adam Thomas made several excellent saves and his performance earned him joint man of the match. The other recipient was Liam Meredith who ran his socks off, laid on the 3rd goal and finished the game strong in defence as Clanfield battled their way back into the game. Clanfield had beaten Shortwood 1-0 in the Floodlit Cup earlier in the season and again showed they are a good side. They played open attractive football and in the second half pushed Wood back for long periods.
Shortwood made the early running and created good chances before they scored with a simple goal in the 8th minute. Ben Pugh sent over a corner and Ross Casey headed home at the far post. Andy Hoskins, playing at the back, stopped Clanfield levelling a minute later with a super last ditch tackle on Mays. Wood continued to have the better of it and Mortlock raced on to Casey’s defence splitting pass finished coolly to double the score after 33 minutes. Mason shot too close to Clanfield keeper Brain and Thomas did well to keep out a deflected effort before the break.
HT:            0 – 2
Clanfield attacked from the start in the second half and three times Thomas denied Clanfield with excellent saves before Shortwood added their third, against the run of play, after 62 minutes. Meredith broke down the left, cut in, and crossed low to Mish Green who supplied the close range finish. Parrott replaced Mortlock and almost immediately Green had a header blocked and then the same player just failed to get on the end of another low Meredith cross. Wood then lost Parrott, Pugh and Casey to injury as Clanfield battled back and the 10 men were given a stern test. Mays pulled one back with 5 minutes to go but the defence, and Thomas, held firm to see Wood through.

Oxford United Mark Stadium Opening
Thame United 1 – 3 Oxford United
A crowd of 1,382 braved the cold weather on Tuesday evening to watch Thame United take on a strong Oxford United in a friendly to mark the opening of the new ASM Stadium at Meadow View Park. The crowd, which broke the club record by nearly a third, were treated to a highly entertaining and enjoyable encounter fit for the stadium opening and which saw the home side hold their illustrious neighbours until mid-way through the second half, before eventually losing 3-1.

Oxford scored early in the game through Matt Green, before Alex Stewart equalised after half an hour with the goal of the game, dispossessing Jimmy Sangare and then beating keeper Simon Eastwood with a drive from 30 yards. In the second half Oxford stepped up the pace and scored twice, with goals from Sam Deering and Connor MacDona

In the end, however, it was not the result that mattered but the occasion. Thame return to league action this weekend with a home match against Pegasus Juniors, hoping that a good proportion of those that attended the game on Tuesday will come back for more.