Combe Cracker

Match One
Cumnor finally faced the test we needed to see how good we are in this year's league. And the truth is, we are well placed to do well if we remember to bring what we do at training to match day.

With Will away, the starting line up was re-jigged with Adam going left, Toby pushing wide right and Joe coming into defence. The players knew from last season's encounters that Combe love to attack and they did from the start. The sparky 9 went very close after a surging run. But it wasn't all Combe and Rory set up a lovely move which Adam almost finished.

It was end-to-end stuff and Ollie - making his first start of the season in goal - parried the ball out for a corner. In went the ball, up it bobbled and into a Cumnor hand. Penalty. Ollie made himself big and dived the right way but luckily the ball flew past the post. The miss was the wake-up call we needed and the boys added purpose to their play. Joe was like a terrier snapping away and Toby good at getting forward. Ben sat a little deeper protecting the back two. Then came the goal. Fyn sensed the Combe goal kicks weren't making any real distance and pounced on a loose one. His first touch was impeccable, he looked up and fed Adam on the left who smashed it into the net. 1-0.

With half-time approaching we tried to protect the lead but needed Ollie to make a spectacular back peddling tip over to keep our noses in front. Changes were made at the break with Ben dropping back, Adam going central, Fyn left, Binky right and James E up front. Suddenly, we came alive and the fluidity was back in our game. Fyn, James and Adam combined well. Fyn chipped in a lovely cross which James reached well but just pushed over (too much hair gel, perhaps?)

Combe refused to give in and Rory - who wasn't feeling well - and Ben were kept busy. Ollie caught everything that came his way and made a brilliant full length one-handed save. The game went right down to the wire with both teams giving everything they had in the morning heat. Ben, hurt on the ground with tears in his eyes, leapt to his feet and made a blockbusting tackle. Binky, out wide, was an ever-willing runner and Rory - playing at 70% - was unbeatable.

An excellent battling, gutsy 1-0 win against a team who came to Cumnor to win. Forget the goal gluts, today showed how good we are.

Match Two
Combe played pretty much the same seven in match two and were already in the zone against our fresher players. Binky started in goal, Matt & James S in defence, Toby/Ollie/Ed midfield and Henry S up front.

It was an all-action up and at 'em encounter with the ball pinging up and down the pitch. James S was excellent at the back (ably supported by Matt) tackling well and finding Toby and Ed on the flanks. Ollie, enjoying the run of midfield, broke free and almost scored. Ed, too went close, just pushing the ball wide. However, Combe were determined to get something from the day and whilst we missed our chances, they took theirs well. Henry S threatened in the box but at half-time, Combe were 3-0 up.

James E and Joe joined the action in the second half and James S and Matt pushed up into midfield. Cumnor played tighter and kept hold of the ball but the chances were drying up at both ends. The boys never stopped trying and were unlucky not to get any reward for their efforts.

Player of the Week: Ollie did brilliantly in goal, Fyn excelled wide left, Ben brave and disciplined and Joe did all that was asked of him but player of the week was Adam for his wonderful midfield work.