Cumnor Rediscover Passing Game

Two excellent team performances against Charlbury showed Cumnor's patience and poise.

In match one, Cumnor almost got off to a dream start with a series of slick passes putting Adam M in. Fyn proved his footballing versatility playing in defence and threading some lovely passes through to our midfield quartet of Rory, Ollie, James and Adam M. Ben looked lively up front and was unlucky not to score. With chances falling to our players, it was left to Ollie to open the scoring with a terrific low drive. Ollie was then involved in another great move with Fyn which led to another one of Ben's dangerous corners.

In the second-half, Will came out of goal and went up front in place of Ben, and Toby came on for James. Ollie, threatening down the left, hit an awkward cross/shot which the goalie knocked away into the path of Will. 2-0. Cumnor kept the ball and maintained momentum with more clever passes. Our movement too, was excellent. Will got his second - and Cumnor's third - with a smart right foot finish. Fyn's long range shot was just over. Will got his deserved hat-trick (three goals in under 10 minutes! after a strong run in the box, unleashing a ferocious shot into the corner.

However, it wasn't all Cumnor. Charlbury threatened and nearly got a goal back before Ben made an excellent save. Ollie and Adam combined well to set up Toby who finished well. 5-0.

In match two, Toby started in goal with Joe in defence; Rory, Henry M, Fyn and James S in midfield and James E up front. Charlbury threatened more in this game and Cumnor had to work together as a team to wrestle control of the match. James E almost got the opener but was thwarted on the line. Cumnor did score first however, through Fyn who made a storming Gerrard-like run from midfield to bury the loose ball. 1-0. James S was strong in the challenge and made a fantastic run which almost set up our second. It wasn't to be, with Charlbury snatching an equalizer. Against the run of play, Charlbury would have gone into the lead but for a smart save from Toby. James E made a powerful surge into the box, had his shot blocked on the line and so too, did James S who came close to opening his account for the season. James E and Fyn both went close (Fyn with a Lampard-like miss) just before half-time.

In the second-half, Will and Ben came on for Rory and Fyn, and James E went in goal. Henry led by example making some ferocious tackles and bellowing for the ball. Ben too, was at his rotweiller best, securing the ball in midfield. Will tried 'a Fyn' and almost scored from 30 yards out. James S continued making dangerous runs down the wing and set up Ben to score Cumnor's second. Cumnor led but never had total control and despite excellent goalkeeping by James E, Charlbury got the equalizer. A fair result for a fantastic game.

All the Cumnor players performed brilliantly. Our passing, movement and tackling was exactly what we've been striving for in training. The referee was impressed with the boys and said some lovely things about our play at the end.

Player of the Week for his controlled performance out wide - and his excellent goal - Ollie.