Bampton Goal Blitz

Two games and 14 goals... the Bampton clash was certainly one of the most thrilling ties of the season.

Match One
Cumnor got off to a sluggish start but took control of the game once we got our passing together. With Toby coming into the wide right position, Fyn up front and Ben C and Adam M alternating between the holding/attacking midfield role... Cumnor showed great balance. But it was Bampton who opened the scoring by finding Cumnor's one weakness: our inability to deal with the high through ball.

It took a goal to force us into life and halfway into the 1st half, Fyn did something no Cumnor player has done all season: he scored with his head. Will played a lovely corner into the danger area and our star striker was there to bang it home. With Rory powering up from the back and Ben cleverly sweeping, Cumnor pushed higher and higher up field. Will took the ball on the edge of the area, went wide and then swung a left foot to send the ball crashing into the corner of the net. 2-1.

Cumnor kept pressing and more good work from Adam set up Will who played a delightful pass into Fyn. Timing his run to perfection, Fyn took Cumnor to a comfortable 3-1 lead. With Cumnor in control, a Bampton long shot fell awkwardly out of the sun and just beat Ed's jump. 3-2.

In the second-half, Bampton tested us with the long ball from the kick-off. Hesitance in midfield saw the ball fall for the Bampton 8 who squeezed it past Ed. 3-3. Cumnor were making hard work of winning the game but kept putting together some lovely moves. Our persistence paid off and Ben's corner was met by a towering Rory header: 4-3.

With long shots, flicks and overhead kicks Cumnor almost had it in the bag before one more speculative Bampton thump forward found their dangerous 8 who completed a well-deserved hat-trick 4-4.

Both teams looked disappointed at the end but everyone at The Closes cheered the boys (and girl) off because we knew every single player had given his - and her - all.

Match Two was just as entertaining. Ben Mc started in goal with Binky at the back. Laurie, Adam M, Henry S and Ed played midfield and James E captained from the front. Unlike the first match, Cumnor dealt with the bouncing ball with more determination (despite Adam using his hand... twice!) Ed relished the freedom of playing out and made some strong, surging runs. Laurie was difficult to handle out wide and his determination saw him break through to score the first goal. 1-0. Cumnor almost got a second moments later after James made a lovely, twinkle-toed run complete with a Ronaldo/Muller-esque stepover.

In the second-half, Adam replaced Ben in goal. With Ben and Ed powering through the middle, a second was on the cards. Ed ran the length of the pitch and was about to fire home before Ben snapped it off his toe and found the net. Ed's shocked look was a sight to behold! 2-0.

Bampton got a goal back before James E showed what a natural goalscorer he is by taking a difficult chance. 3-1. Ed and Ben kept charging forward (thanks to the solid platform provided by Binky's magnificent defensive work) and Ed deserved to get his goal. 4-1. A late effort from Bampton ended the match 4-2 and again, both sets of of players left the field to rapturous applause.

Great stuff... now, if only we can learn to deal with that bouncing ball!

Player of the Week: plaudits for Ed and Binky but it had to go to our header heroes: Fyn and Rory