Match Round-up for 6 September 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)

Champions Lambourn crushed by Crowmarsh

An impressive display by Crowmarsh Gifford saw them start the new season in fine style, with an emphatic 4 – 1 home victory over last season’s champions Lambourn Sports.

Photo © Andy Wells
Lambourn's Stuart Pagliaroli (blue & white hoops) keeps his eyes on the ball, closely marked by Crowmarsh's Scott Gesner

This was a big test for the newly promoted Crowmarsh and they passed it with a performance of control and team-work, in what was a really good open game.

Crowmarsh took the lead when a throw in on the right found Liam Strudwick unmarked in the six yard box and he drove the ball powerfully past Gavin Oram in the Lambourn goal, with Lambourn players still arguing over the award of the throw.

Lambourn came back and Mark Field shot from the right angle of the box, only to see Matt Gesner spread himself well to save with his legs. However, five minutes from the break the ball broke kindly for Paul Hannigan, who tucked the ball nicely past Oram to make it 2 – 0 to Crowmarsh at the interval.

Andy Allum had been the subject of several Lambourn players’ attention in the first half and had picked up a booking but within 36 seconds of the resumption of the match, he lashed the ball into the far corner of the net from 30 yards out to make his point and put the home side 3 – 0 up.

Lambourn hit back almost immediately when Darren Jones converted a cross from the right at close range and with Gesner saving at the feet of Terry Wood, Ben Willis heading off the Crowmarsh line and Jones flicking a header against the left upright, it was still a game to be rescued by the visitors. However, Allum fed Strudwick in the area late in the game and he found the far corner of the net to seal the points.

In other Division 1 games, Drayton went in at half-time 3 – 0 up at Wootton & Dry Sandford, thanks to goals from Adam Greenaway (2) and Danny Curran. Josh Nicholls pulled a goal back for Wootton and then Drayton’s Ben Duke pushed a penalty from George Casserly onto the bar on 70 minutes.

Curran completed a hat-trick with further goals in the 75^th and 80^th minutes, though the Wootton bench were incensed over the manner in which Curran got away from his marker for his second goal, as they were with a possible handball in the opening goal in the game.

A.F.C. Wallingford celebrated their first win of the season with a 5 – 2 home success, against Ardington & Lockinge, who are facing life without two of their key players during the last few trophy-winning season – Alan Haines and Ashley Wheeler having transferred to Childrey.

Blewbury also picked up some useful acquisitions in pre-season and they were too good for Harwell Village, winning 6 – 2 with goals from Lee Hedges (3) and debutant Lawrence Hoey (3). Alan Bertrum (penalty) and Matt Aplin netted for Harwell.

Derren Harrington also picked up a hat-trick as Faringdon Town won 5 – 2 at Harwell International. Gary Sutton scored Town’s other two goals with James Sherwood and Jonny Eudell on target for the Atomics.

In Division 2, newly promoted Didcot Casuals travelled to Grove Rangers and returned with a 1 – 0 win, thanks to a goal from their new signing, former Blewbury star Johnny Pearce.

Fancied Benson A.F.C. also won 1 – 0 on their travels… Alan Wright missed a first-half penalty for Benson but Jim Oliver scored the only goal to give them the points against Kingsclere.

Relegated from the top Division last season, Marcham are looking to bounce right back and made a decent start with a 2 – 1 win over Lambourn Sports Reserves. It didn’t look that way when Steve Crame gave Lambourn the lead after only three minutes but Lewis Hall got a goal in either half to bring early joy to Marcham.

Having started with a 5 – 0 loss last week, East Hendred turned it around with a 4 – 0 win at Faringdon Town Reserves, while Sutton Courtenay drew 1 – 1 with Coleshill United thanks to a goal from Stephen Lewis.

Too much success in the cup competitions may have been Botley United’s downfall in the league last year but they seem determined to make up for it this term. They hammered poor Blewbury Reserves 8 – 2, with Andy Potter (3), Kevin Cooper (2), Andy Humphreys (2) and Keith Bruce to make it two wins and thirteen goals already so far.

Long Wittenham Athletic won 3 – 0 at home to promoted Wootton & Dry Sandford Reserves, with strikes from Olly Saunders, Andy Marriott and Tim Barton while Shrivenham ‘A’ were held to a 1 – 1 draw by Drayton Reserves; Adam Clarke finding the net for Shrivenham while Ian Oram opened his account for Drayton.

Harwell International Reserves got the better of a seven-goal thriller in a 4 – 3 win at home to Benson Lions; Adam Blaszco, Lee Absolom, Lee Chapman and Andy Corderory scoring for Harwell.

In Division 4, a serious leg injury to Challow United’s Daniel Bradley after 60 minutes of the match against Benson A.F.C Reserves, caused that game to be abandoned with the score standing at 1 – 1.

Stanford in the Vale opened their season with a 7 – 0 win at home to Marcham Reserves with the home sides Jason Evens netting six goals for the second week running (having knocked in six for the reserves last time out). Stephen Holder bagged the other Stanford goal.

It’s an unusual sight at the top of the division as Hagbourne United sit proudly on top with maximum points from two games, following a 3 – 2 win over Uffington United on Saturday. On target for Hagbourne were Chris Burns, Liam Jones and Pete Loughlin direct from a corner kick.

Didcot Casuals Reserves were held to a 3 – 3 draw at home to Hanney United with Tim Young (2) and Luke Hammond netting for Casuals.

In Division 5, Shane Blake (4) and Marc Richards (3) were the tidy scorers for Coleshill United ‘A’ as they rattled in seven against Sutton Courtenay Reserves in a 7 – 1 win.

Finally, Didcot Casuals ‘A’ went two goals to the good against Uffington Reserves, thanks to goals from Matty Chomyn and Kevin Dawson. However, the away side battled back to win 3 – 2 with a well taken winner from a free-kick.

Match Round-up for 6 September 2008 (Report by Andy Wells)

Match Round-up for 6 September 2008
(Report by Andy Wells)