Carterton Cliffhanger

We finally got a game in against Carterton and it was nice to leave with 2 wins under our belt.

In the first match, a new defensive pairing of James S and Rory gave the boys a solid base on which to play an expansive passing game. Will skipped past a few challenges and put a cross in for Ollie to open the scoring. Then lovely interplay between Ben, Fyn and Will forced an own goal from Will's cross.

With Adam working hard down the flank and Ben snapping away in midfield, Cumnor were well in control. Fyn took a beautiful touch and slid in the fourth before netting again to take a 4-0 lead into half time.

We reshaped for the second half with Fyn and Ollie going wide, Will and Adam central and Ben up front. The reorganization effected our rhythm but James and Rory were totally at ease. Will shimmied past a defender and shot low for our fifth (which he dedicated to his Grandad on his birthday). Henry was slowly freezing his unmentionables off in goal but he did make a great save. Seconds later, a rocket went past him for a Carterton consolation goal. Rory went close in the final seconds but the victory was ours.

In the second match, Toby took the armband and lined up in midfield with Mat. Binky and Henry S went wide, Laurie and Joe in defence, Adam in goal and James S striker. This was a much closer game with the midfield a combat zone. Carterton laid siege to our goal and it took a few telltale Joe crunchers to keep them at bay. Pressure, eventually, paid off and Carterton took the lead. But a moment of magic saw us draw level. Henry S played a superb inside pass to James E who spun and found the bottom corner. 1-1.

Second half changes saw Binky and Toby swap and Matt put on their dangerous number 3 and Laurie take the captain's armband. The battle was on with tackles flying in and shots ricocheting here, there and everywhere. Adam made a good save and Joe was throwing himself into everything. Binky was enjoying a better half in the middle of the action and Toby threatened out wide. Mat broke up a few dangerous attacks but it was another Henry/James combo which saw James hit the eventual winner. 2-1.

With the tension growing towards the end, Laurie grew in stature and made a brilliant clearing header just as Carterton looked set to draw level.

Player of the Week: James S looked assured in the first game, James E and Fyn took their goals well but the deserved player of the week for his strong leadership and bravery was Laurie.

We're Off Again

Well, we weren't on Saturday. At least in the 'off' to rain, ice and snow sense... but off to a flying start to the second half of our season. Two games, two wins (6-1 and 5-0), great goals, fine tackles, lovely passes, mazy runs (trying to follow Dave O's line work) and lots and lots of missed chances. We hit the bar, the post, each other but most of all, the brave Stonesfield keeper. Well done everyone, it's nice to be back.

Player of the Week: it could have been Ollie for his outrageous back-heel goal or Ed for resisting the urge to rugby tackle but in the end, it went to James S for a beautifully composed performance at centre-half.