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Fixture Lists
1.30-Aug-08 |
Weekly News Report Match Round-up for 22 November 2008
Drayton shown the
way by deadly Pearson Recent first team acquisition
Bobby Pearson was the hero, as
Drayton finally found the route to goal, coming from behind to put
Blewbury out of the Charity
Shield amid late controversy. Three Blewbury players were
dismissed from the field in the latter part of what had been a thoroughly
honest and competitive game of football but Drayton had shown from the
first minute that they had the winning formula, if not the finishing
solution.
A 40-yard shot from Rob
Powell that whistled inches over the Blewbury bar was the first of many
close calls in the first half, with Bradley Ritchie hitting the crossbar
with a volley in the 13th minute and Powell again, striking the
post when he should have scored. Carl Bolton also had a good chance when a
long ball held up well for him to run on to but he blazed wide. Blewbury ended the half with
a shot against the post by Tom Ingram and Drayton’s worst fears were
realised, after such early domination, when Lawrence Hoey struck a superb
shot from 25 yards into the top corner right after the interval. Drayton continued to create
and squander chances but just as it seemed they were heading out of the
cup Pearson took the ball down just inside the area and hooked the ball
into the far corner for the equaliser in the 83rd minute. Throughout the game James
Brown had been impressive at the back for Drayton and he made a crucial
tackle to prevent Tom Ingram getting through. Then, just before the game
entered extra-time Blewbury were reduced to ten men when their captain
Ross Tyler was sent off for a second bookable offence. Four minutes into the extra
period, Pearson headed in a right wing cross to put Drayton deservedly
ahead at 2 - 1. Shortly afterwards, a penalty was awarded to Drayton when
Ritchie was upended in the box but Brown’s well struck spot kick was
magnificently turned away by Simon Matthews. Blewbury committed more
players forward and probably had their best spell but it all went sour
when Pearson sealed the game with a goal on the break, to make it 3 – 1.
Jack Hogan and Simon Barlow were sent from the field for comments made to
the referee Michael Billinge-Jones in the same worrying incident but
thankfully the game was played to a finish.
Saxton Rovers
cruised to a 3 – 0 half-time lead against a too respectful
Benson A.F.C. but, after a few
words from manager Leigh Matthews, the home side came out with a different
attitude and pulled the score back to 2 – 3 with goals from Jim Oliver and
debutant Mark Stringer. Benson had chances to equalise but conceded again
towards the end to make the final score 2 – 4.
Stanford in the Vale’s
good season continues, as a goal from Adam Clay gave them a narrow 1 – 0
victory over higher division Grove
Rangers. The holders
Faringdon Town are through to the quarter-finals after a 2 – 1 win
over A.F.C.
Wallingford, thanks to goals from Garry Sutton and Danny Courtney,
while Harwell Village squeezed
through 1 – 0 against Long
Wittenham Athletic with a goal from John Willis.
Lambourn Sports
scored in the first minute against Division 3 side
Benson Lions but Will Wardell
was on target with an equaliser. Lambourn eased ahead by 3 – 1 before
Chris Armstrong’s late goal for the Lions.
Crowmarsh Gifford
strolled to a resounding 8 – 0 home win over
East Hendred with Paul Hannigan
hitting four goals and Liam Currell (2), Dan Keeler and Phil Hedges
getting the others. The only game in the A.G.
Kingham Cup saw a strong Harwell
International Reserves get a convincing 7 – 0 win over
Long Wittenham Reserves.
Harwell go through to the quarter-finals where they will meet Drayton
Reserves, thanks to goals from Mark Porter (2), Jon Greenough, Chris Key,
Adam Blascko and Joe Lydon. In League Division 1,
Ardington & Lockinge gained a
second successive win on their travels to further ease any relegation
worries. Chris Roche getting the only goal in a 1 – 0 win at
Harwell International – who are
still without a league win after eight games. In Division 2,
Coleshill United’s promotion
hopes were dealt a blow, as neighbours
Faringdon Town Reserves won 3 –
2. Ian Fawkes and Dan Sealey netted for Coleshill but a Robbie Harrington
treble brought joy for the visitors. For the second successive
week a Saxton Rovers Reserves’ team player hit four goals in a game, Jamie
Dutton followed Wayne Waldron’s efforts of last weekend. Also scoring was
Steve Pitson (2) and Jamie Hawthorne as they thrashed
Sutton Courtenay 7 – 2 to move up into fourth place. Vinny Cooper
and Danny Cox scored the visitor’s consolation goals. In Division 3, it looks as
though a group of three teams are breaking away.
Botley United won 4 – 1 at
Ardington & Lockinge Reserves
with two goals apiece from Chris Potter and Darren Witchell to remain two
points clear with an impressive goal difference. Sam Powell scoring for
Ardington.
Drayton Reserves
got back to winning ways with a 4 – 1 win at home to
Wootton & Dry Sandford Reserves,
to stay in second place. Kevin Kogel (2), Ian Oram with his ninth goal
of the season and Paul Empson were the Drayton marksmen with James Booker
scoring for Wootton. Tom Rawle hit two goals in
the final five minutes to keep
Shrivenham ‘A’ firmly on the coat tails of the top two, with a 2 – 0
win at Harwell Village Reserves.
Grove Rangers Reserves
climbed off the bottom of the table, following a 5 – 5 home draw with
experienced Coleshill United Reserves. Richard Bailey hit a hat-trick for Grove,
with other goals coming from Jon Wells and Dean Worthington while
Coleshill’s scorers were Shane Blake (2), Christian Ayres (2) and Martin
Suter. In Division 4,
Uffington United went back to
the top of this most unpredictable of tables, following a 3 – 0 win at
Challow United. Previous brief
leaders Moving up slowly are
Hanney United. Their 2 – 1 home
win against Steventon Reserves,
courtesy of goals from Paul Freeman and Danny Sayer, moves them into third
place with games in hand.
Benson A.F.C. Reserves’
perfect record has gone, with
Didcot Casuals Reserves winning 3 – 1 with goals from Gareth Cole (2)
and Tim Young. Meanwhile
Hagbourne United, once table
toppers themselves, were humbled 7 – 1 at
Marcham Reserves and hitting
the goals for Marcham were Leighton Jackson (2), Jon Cummings (2), Nick
Willis, Luke Westall and Marcus Charman. Division 5 saw
Coleshill United ‘A’ extend
their lead to six points with a 7 – 1 win at home to
Didcot Casuals ‘A’ – Martin
Chivers (2), Chris Wardroper, Luke Regan, James Bye, James Head and Danny
Roberts with Lee Newport scoring for Didcot.
Benson Lions Reserves
hold on to second place in their first campaign, thanks to a 1 – 0 win at
Hagbourne United Reserves,
courtesy of a goal from Graham Kirk. While,
Stanford in the Vales Reserves
won 3 – 2 at Uffington Reserves
with Andrew Morton scoring both Uffington goals and Max Kelly, Tim Eltham
and Richard Evans scoring for Stanford. Finally,
Sutton Courtenay Reserves and
Hanney Reserves drew 2 – 2
which does little to improve their respective positions at the foot of the
table. Sutton’s scorers were Dave Fernando (2) with Kenny Clements and
Andy Alder scoring for Hanney. |