Cumnor Come Of Age

A staggering display, a monumental performance, a result which will send shockwaves through the county. Under a glowering sky, on October 20th 2013, Cumnor Minors came of age. To go toe-to-toe with a team like Horspath, a team blessed with talent, skill and belief, shows just how far we've come since September.

In the last few weeks, the coaches have impressed on the boys the need to be disciplined, strong, organised and patient. Yes, results have been great but we knew our first encounter against the current champions would determine what we actually have. And what we have is spirit right through the 16 boys who represent us each week.

As for the match itself, it was a classic. The boys had to stay strong and focussed knowing that a slipped tackle or a lost position might be crucial. The boys had to be on it from the first to last whistle and my word, they were.

In the first half, we created chances with Fyn going agonisingly close from wide out and Will testing the keeper with a speculative lob. Yet it was Horspath who broke the deadlock after a slight hesitation at the back. We thought this might happen so the boys were primed to respond. They were challenged not to accept falling behind but to fight to get back into the game. Quick rotation meant the boys could run and challenge and shadow and block and then, when driven into the ground, they could seek some respite off the pitch. Never has 'the squad' system been so important. Then towards the end of the half, our pressure told and we were awarded a free kick from 25 yards out. Will stepped up and hit the target - scoring his third free kick of the season - after the unlucky Horspath keeper spilled into his net. Cumnor might have been down on possession but in the stat that counts, we went in level at half-time. 1-1.

In the second-half, to combat the domineering Horspath numbers 5 and 10, we bolstered the midfield allowing Ben, Joseph and Michael to hunt as a wolf pack, leaving the valiant Nathan - more than proving a point to his former coaches - to lead the line. We also brought Will and his heading ability into centre-half and unleashed Adam and Fyn out wide. Suddenly the whole tone of the match shifted. Horspath passed and moved, jinked and feinted but Cumnor wouldn't roll over. Joseph was a beast in the tackle, Rory inspired, Doddie more than a match for the tricky 6, Toby and Jack ever willing to throw themselves into a challenge. And then there was Ben. The last time Ben took a game by the scruff of the neck was against Deddington last season. Yesterday, he played the half of his life. It wasn't just his skill and determination, it was his cleverness and aptitude for work. With Will, Rory, Toby, Harry and Jack solid... Ben, Joseph, Luke, Michael and Adam leading the counter with speed and incisiveness. And then we scored one of the best smash and grab goals you'll ever see... forged in midfield, buried by Ben but made with the most audacious - and inspired - reverse pass from Fyn. It really doesn't matter that Fyn isn't finding the net... he is finding magic in the spaces between the attacking lines.

2-1, the rain, the tension, the cries from the opposition and then, surprisingly, a penalty. Up stepped clinical Ben to finish the job, 3-1. And whilst all this was going on, whilst the tackles were flying in, the headers being won, the attacks unfolding, whilst all this was happening, there stood Henry in goal. All the hard work with Chris and Graham, all the lonely hours at Tilsley brought him to this point, his finest hour and the effusive praise of the Horspath coach.

We beat Horspath. We are top. This is just the beginning because now, our brilliant brilliant boys... are the team EVERYONE wants to beat.

Player of the  Week: Henry, Jack, Doddie, Adam, Toby, Harry, Rory, Will, Ben, Michael, Joseph, Luke, Nathan, Fyn, Josh, James

Not Our Best, But...

Cumnor stayed top of the OMYL A Division despite producing its least convincing display of the season at Goring.  Whilst the eventual 5-0 victory reflected the balance of play, the team lacked cohesion and squandered a few good chances.  That said, the players stuck together, fought hard for each other and came off the pitch with smiles on their faces.

The first half was a very scrappy affair, with Cumnor treating the football like a hot potato - showing little confidence in their passing and gifting the ball to Goring on too many occasions.  However, Cumnor created the best of the best of the chances, and saw a number of efforts flash just wide of get cleared by Goring defenders.  At the other end the Goring striker was proving a handful for Rory and Jack, however for the most part he was kept at bay.  When he did fire off a shot, stand in goalie Harry was up to the challenge, making an excellent one-handed save low to his left.  As the half wore on Cumnor increased the pressure resulting in a number of corners.  Eventually one of these was converted by Nathan and Cumnor went in at half-time 1-0 up.  

The second half saw a much improved performance.  Full-backs and midfielders were working well in tandem, creating plenty of chances.  Luke, Fyn, Adam, Jack and Doddy all took a turn out wide and produced plenty of crosses which the forwards only just failed to convert.  After only five minutes, Cumnor doubled its lead as "Early scored a Worldy"; James taking the ball on the volley and dipping it over the Goring keeper.

Goring kept going for the whole 70 mins with its bare 11, and worked hard to make life difficult for Cumnor. However as the half wore on the pressure began to tell.  Nathan, the ever alert poacher, grabbed a couple of smart goals, Adam and Luke went close, Joseph put a free kick just wide and Harry remained untroubled in goal.  Final word went to Ben, who took a smart pass from Luke, showed some quick feet and slid the ball under the goalie.  

It wasn't the greatest of performances, but the boys recognised this, battled hard and did not let their heads drop.  The wide play we have been working on in training seems to be helping us create chances and as time goes on more of these will get taken.  Player of the week however came down to a choice between two - with the excellent Harry just being edged out by hat-trick hero Nathan.      

Bump and Grind

A 3-0 win against Chalgrove keeps us top of the league but it wasn't the smoothest of displays. Maybe that had something to do with a pitch that made passing - and shooting - difficult for both teams. Chalgrove were very difficult to break down but the Cumnor boys dug in and kept working hard on a hot Sept afternoon. It was great to see Josh and Toby back in the blue and both looked like they'd never been away.

As for the match, three well-worked goals, the first a lovely calm finish by Luke after some nice link work between Adam and Will and a killer pass by Ben. The second was a predatory finish by the quicksilver Nathan, who is on an excellent goalscoring run. The third was a neat header by Fyn after good wing work by Adam. Great stuff, good discipline at the back and lots of industry in midfield... and Joseph wasn't told off by the ref for the first time this season!

Player of the Week: Jack was great in defence and attack, Will, Rory and Josh showed no ill-effects from a morning of rugby and Ben was his ever combative self. POW however for putting a great shift in and playing more of a passing game, Luke.