Match Round-up for 18 April 2009

Didcot Casuals cane rivals Marcham to close in on promotion
Report by Andy Wells

Three goals in the opening twenty minutes gave Didcot Casuals a flying start in their key promotion battle against Marcham on Saturday, with Casuals going on to record a stunning 6 – 1 victory and increase their hopes of the Division Two title.

After only three minutes, Liam Corrigan finished from close range to open the scoring and Lewis Monaghan doubled the lead after 14 minutes when he went one-on-one with Marcham keeper Tristan Barrett and scored.

Photo © Andy Wells
Marcham's Tommy Cousins (dark blue) looks for a way through the Didcot Casuals defence with Neil Tonner attempting to block his shot

On 18 minutes Neil Tonner scored with a slightly deflected right-foot drive from the edge of the area to make it 3 – 0 and Marcham were left stunned. However, they rallied to pull a goal back on 26 minutes when Stuart Armstrong was brought down following a run into the box and Will Westall converted the penalty.

Marcham’s Phil Stokes headed just wide but at the other end Barrett needed to save well from John Pearce and Wayne Jacks had a header cleared off the line as Didcot continually stretched the Marcham defence.

Stokes hit the post from close range at the start of the second half but the game was gone when Pearce controlled and volleyed a crossed ball into the far corner in the 57^th minute and just a few minutes later keeper Joe Betteridge stepped up to make it 5 – 1 to Casuals.

It got worse for Marcham as Pearce broke clear on the right and struck the ball past Barrett to complete the scoring.

Leaders Warborough & Shillingford had to settle for a point as they came from behind against Saxton Rovers Reserves to draw 1 – 1 at home; Craig O’Connor putting the visitors in front after 15 minutes when he headed past Phil Rose.

Warborough spurned several chances before Liam Barson dribbled past four defenders in the 50^th minute, to rifle home the equaliser. Casuals are now just two points behind with two games in hand.

Benson A.F.C. have slipped off the pace now, following a midweek 2 – 1 defeat to Marcham and a 0 – 0 draw at relegation fighters Faringdon Town Reserves.

After winning 3 – 2 at Grove Rangers in midweek, Lambourn Sports Reserves hammered bottom side Sutton Courtenay 8 – 0 to move up into fifth place. Stuart Denton scored in the win against Grove and knocked in two more against a Sutton side that played with good spirit and never gave up despite the situation. Steve Crame scored five while Terry Woods notched the other.

In Division 1, Saxton Rovers followed up their 3 – 1 win against Wootton & Dry Sandford in the week, with a 3 – 0 win at Crowmarsh Gifford that means they are now twelve points ahead of the nearest challengers Faringdon Town. Steve Pitson, Benny Sutton and Matt Shelton scored against Wootton, while Paul Churchouse (pen.), Tom Aldworth and Chris Hooper bagged the goals against Crowmarsh.

Faringdon Town needed a goal from substitute Richard Evans in the 80^th minute to secure the points against Blewbury, in a lacklustre show by the second and third placed teams.

Harwell Village maintained an outside chance of the title with a 5 – 2 win at Lambourn Sports. Harwell led 2 – 1 at the break with goals from Lee Fuller (3), Neil Smith and J.R. Willis with Lambourn scoring through Matty Pedder and Adrian Mooney.

Drayton put another nail in the coffin of A.F.C. Wallingford with a 4 – 3 home win that was a little more in Drayton’s favour than the final score suggests. The interval score was 1 – 1 with a penalty conversion each but Drayton went ahead again through keeper Ben Tyler’s kick out of his hands. Further goals from Carl Bolton and Kevin Giddings put Drayton 4 – 1 ahead before Wallingford rallied.

Harwell Intenational Reserves pulled off a big surprise in Division Three, as they put a serious dent in leaders Botley United’s title aspirations with a 4 – 2 victory. Jamie Clark and Johnny Eudell both struck twice to boost Harwell’s own chance of avoiding relegation, while Chris Potter (pen.) and Andy Tompkins replied for Botley, who overcame a potentially harder hurdle in beating Shrivenham ‘A’ 5 – 2 in midweek: Chris Potter, Andy Potter, Mark Nicholls (2) and Kevin Cooper netting.

Closest challengers Childrey United made it two wins in four days with a priceless goal ten minutes from time against Blewbury Reserves to secure a 1 – 0 win. Earlier in the week they had overcome a strengthened Ardington Reserves 3 – 2 with goals from Danny Hogan, Tom Weeks and Chris Pettis, though Darren Males needed to make a fine penalty save.

Drayton Reserves deepened Ardington Reserves’ relegation fears with a 3 – 1 win on Saturday, though the game started badly with a broken leg for Drayton’s Ben Hibbins after only seven minutes of the match.

Drayton recovered to win with goals from Phil Empson, Jack Lester and Ian Oram.

Not so long ago you wouldn’t have discussed Long Wittenham Athletic’s promotion hopes but four successive wins have brought to the fringe of the race, with games in hand. A 5 – 1 home in against Coleshill United Reserves means they can still overhaul both Childrey and Botley but it’s a big ask with so many games still to play.

The match against Coleshill started slowly but goals from Danny Osborne (2), Tim Barton (2) and Steve Molloy broke the away side’s stubborn resistance.

Shrivenham ‘A’ won 2 – 1 against hard-working Grove Rangers Reserves to stay in the hunt despite the midweek disappointment. Goals for ‘Shrivvy’ came from Matty Howe and Harry Heath, with Marc Lewis replying for Grove.

In Division Four, Benson A.F.C. Reserves kept the promotion battle going another week with a 2 – 0 home win against Marcham Reserves, thanks to strikes from Kris Ray and Carl Fisher. Meanwhile, challengers for that second place Stanford in the Vale won 3 – 0 against Steventon Reserves with goals from the prolific Jason Evans (2) and Steven Holder’s shot from distance.

In the battle at the bottom, Hagbourne United recorded a 2 – 1 win against Didcot Casuals Reserves with Gareth Cole scoring for the Casuals.

In Division Five, Uffington United Reserves completed a highly successful league season with a 5 – 0 home win against Benson Lions Reserves. Goals from Devan Bryan (3), Dave Roberts and Ian Moore guaranteed them the runners-up place and kept them a point ahead of United ‘A’, who won 4 – 2 against Stanford-in-the-Vale Reserves. Luke Regan notched two goals with Kamal Miah and an own goal making Coleshill’s tally with Max Kelly (16 for the season) and Jamie Gregory scoring for Stanford.

Finally, Hanney United Reserves won 5 – 0 against Didcot Casuals ‘A’ with goals from Andy Alder (2), Kenny Clements, Aaron Drew and Stuart Wright.