Teamwork Key To Combe Wins

Two tough matches, two excellent performances. Cumnor battled hard to claim deserved wins against a previously unbeaten Combe.

In the first match, Fyn and Rory shared goalkeeping/wide right duties, Will and Ben C alternated between defence and attack, Adam M, Ben Mc and Ollie made up the midfield with Edward (playing his first outfield game for the club) at the back.

Cumnor clicked from the start with Rory making some lovely passes from out wide. Ben C and Edward put in countless sturdy tackles and Ben Mc played with great awareness. Fyn prevented Combe from taking the lead with a brilliant diving save. With Cumnor pressing forward, Will went for the gap and crossed to Ollie who scored the opener with a great instinctive finish.

The goal gave Cumnor increased confidence and good passing set Adam up 15 yard out. Looking up he saw his chance an unleashed a ferocious shot which found the back of the net. Great goal. Seconds later, Will tried to emulate Adam but hit the post from 20 yards out.

The second-half started with Combe on the attack. They scored a deserved goal and put Cumnor on the on the back foot. But the lads dug deep, tackled strongly and passed their way out of trouble. Ben Mc - producing yet another swashbuckling performance - got Cumnor's third. Toby (on for Adam) ran strongly at the Combe defence. More good play from Ben set Ben C up who scored with a lovely left foot shot. With time running out, Ben Mc scored his second - and Cumnor's fifth - and cemented the win.

In the second match, Binky and Laurie played in goal/wide right, Henry & Joe continued their deadly defensive double act, Adam W, James E and Henry S were in midfield with James S up front.

Another strong Cumnor performance was built on full-blooded tackling. Henry and Joe - our blonde bulldozers - were kept busy all match and worked hard to stop Combe scoring. Laurie came close to opening his scoring account with a shot from 20 yards which forced a smart save from the Combe goalie. Scoreless and evenly poised at half-time, the crowd anticipated a cracking send-half.

With James E carrying a knock on his knee, we swapped him and James S in attack/midfield. It proved the turning point. James S exploded into life, breaking up Combe attacks, running strongly and passing sensibly out of trouble. Toby came on and added an increased threat to our attacks and it was his thunderous run which set up our first goal. James E was about to be subbed, but he latched onto Toby's cross with a typically well-timed run, to score.

Slowly, Cumnor increased the pressure but we weren't having it all our own way. Combe forced a couple of great saves from Laurie and their corners proved difficult to deal with. Adam W - who'd been in the wars but bravely decided to continue - made a fantastic header and stopped a certain goal. With James S pulling the strings from midfield, Cumnor broke away and put Binky in for the second.

With time running out, Henry S - who once more impressed out wide - snaffled the ball from the re-start, charged through the heart of the Combe defence and coolly slotted his first goal for the club. 3 - 0.

Terrific all-round display. There were whacks and bangs and balls in faces, but despite the tears, we all pulled together and fought on. Once again, the opposition coach was full of praise for the boys. We proved, by digging in and trying to play properly, that we could claim yet another win.

Lots of contenders for player of the week. Fyn did well in goal and out wide, Ben C tackled his heart out, Adam W was strong and brave but ultimately, the choice came down to our two newest players. Edward excelled playing outfield and was very assured on the ball. However, player of the week, for his clever runs, great passing and superbly taken goal, Henry S.