League Table

Oxenhope 2 Hartshead 0

Team:
Devlin
White Walbank Bentham McNicol
Robinson Nelson Trowers Morris
Cooper Moriarty
Subs: Clewes Day Pullan


I did forget my note book, so feel free to fill in the missing bits (try not to be too self praising as this MAY bring out an adverse reaction from your team mates, who MAY have seen the game differently! )

It was paramount that Oxenhope bounced back from last weeks game v Old Centralians, because 2 close 2-1 defeats are hard to swallow especially when we know that we have not been playing to our capabilities!

A few changes were made from the previous week including the return of Stu Devlin in nets, which was a welcome return and always makes the dressing room entertaining!
Our defence of White Walbank McNicol & man of the match Bentham, looked solid all game and the confidence to play the football from the back was once again pleasing to see, with the long ball only being deployed occasionally, meant the midfield getting their fair share of possession and the patient build ups lead to chances, although too many cheap free kicks were given away in the Hartshead final 3rd where we could have put them under pressure. Devlin was called into play only once in the first half with a superb save low to his left, following a Hartshead player beating the offside trap.

The 2 front men of Moriarty & Cooper were working hard chasing the ball down, linked well with the midfield to create chances, although none of the chances could be converted.
Nelson was having a battle in the centre of midfield with the Hartshead target man, which he was winning, and the threats to the Oxenhope defence were very minimal. The Hartshead defence was pretty solid itself, proving very difficult to break down and with Cooper tiring and time running out the priority was to get Walbank up front.

On the hour Cooper got his deserved rest, Trowers was moved to central defence with Bentham allowing Walbank to go up front, Robinson went into centre midfield and the fresh legs of Day went on the right hand side. Walbanks pace was causing endless problems for Hartshead and the team was lifted, although my priority now was to stop the long ball looking for the quick front men all the time, as the referee seemd to give us offside everytime leading to frustration !

Pullan replaced Morris on the left & Clewes replaced Robinson in centre midfield, with instructions to cut out the direct play, which was carried out and with the work rate now also lifted, it was only a matter of time before Hartshead were broken down. With only 5 mins remaining and some good work from Day down the right, meant his dangerous cross was not cleared and was picked up on the left by Clewes, who laid back to the advancing McNicol to cross for Walbank to rise and hit a deft header into the top right hand corner. The relief from all was overwhelming but the celebrations jubilant, when asked the referee said there was 5 minutes of normal plus 3 minutes of injury time to be played, and now the priority was to get possession of the ball.

The fresh legs were doing the damage now and it was one substitute Day whose cross behind the defence was met by the advancing Pullan (another substitute), who controlled with one touch and despatched into the top right hand corner with the next touch, leaving a despairing keeper. Now fully relaxed Oxenhope could play out the final 4 minutes taking the ball down into the corners until the final whistle was blown.

As discussed at half time, we don’t have to win games by 3 and 4 nil everytime, at this standard beating a team by the 1 or 2 goals will be the order of the day, we have to concentrate on not conceding and when we get the lead then protect it, by working hard to get possession when we don’t have it and maintaining possession when we do.
A great result against a well organised side who will surely take points off the top sides in our division.

A tough challenge this Saturday when we play East End Park away, they finished 5th last season and currently have the same stats as us having played 7 with 13 points, although we have 6 goals advantage on them, a true 6 pointer!

Apparently the pitch is nice as well, having been used by the WRCFA for the semi final last season, also it was used for an England v Wales international on March 14th 1964, when scheduled for Elland Road was moved to East End Park due to Elland Road being waterlogge

Old Centralians (2) v Oxenhope Rec 1st XI (1)

On another windy day, it was a case of 'deja vu' for Oxenhope as we found ourselves 1-0 very early on in the game. Playing into the wind in the first half we found it difficult to keep the ball on the floor, be patient and create the chances and when the chances did arrive they were squandered in front of goal. Oxenhope were lucky not to go 2-0 down when a corner was not defended, but the resulting free header struck the bar! 1-0 half time.

After being forced to make changes at half time due to people going to K2 the night before! Oxenhope created more & more chances and we were fortunate to create a number of 1 on 1's, but unfortunately the final strikes on goal were without determination & all too simple for the keeper! Nelson now having to play at the back (missing his creativity in midfield) and Oxenhope pressing for the equaliser, the game was always going to be stretched, and it was M.O.M. Nelson who got caught out at the back and whilst trying to make up for the mistake, the referee awarded a penalty following a coming together of players! Although Davies went the right way he was unable to get a hand to the ball 2-0 Old Centralians.

With only 10 minutes to go Oxenhope threw everything at the opposition, which paid off when Oxenhope got a penalty following a blatant hand ball, Nelson stepped up and despatched from the spot to maintain his 100% record, despite having to retake the penalty!

Oxenhope could not make the pressure pay and were left frustrated once more and the same result as the following weekend 2-1!

Finally with an home fixture this coming weekend, so it is now for a few players to stand up & be counted and get us back to winning ways! we have some big games now with 3 of the 4 teams above us in league terms, having already beaten teams we have lost to!

Still 5th in the league but we now have to start working harder to get the results we deserve.