Tower Scaled Back

The view on this match will probably depend on team loyalties. Tower will point to missed chances and say '2 points dropped'. Cumnor will look at the discipline and industry and say a 'a point well earned'. Either way, it was a compelling encounter played in cruelly cold conditions.

Twice Tower went ahead thanks to the ever dangerous Piers but twice we came back thanks to Ben finding the net from the edge of the box. Tower did create more chances and brilliant clearances by Joe and Rory - and some very fine decision making by Leo - kept us in the match. What was most pleasing however, was the discipline all the boys displayed. We had a game plan to nullify Piers by putting Rory tight to him, leaving  Josh covering and Ben and Will holding posession in midfield. Despite being blessed with talent throughout the team, there was a sense that Tower would resort to the early through ball to Piers as their frustration grew. He scored two and almost bagged a few more but Rory (who was suffering from a bad chest infection) was just brilliant in a difficult role.

All the boys put a performance in, Doddie looked exceptionally insightful when we tucked him in for a 10 minute midfield cameo. Jack and Fyn were tireless and inventive, Harry a revelation when he had the confidence to bomb on and attack the ball. James, Lucas, Toby and Joe all made significant contributions and stuck to their tasks magnificently.

In the second half, playing against the slope and the wind, we knew Tower would come at us quick and fast so that's why we pushed Will and Adam back to help Josh because three ball players at the back meant we could break up attacks and use the ball wisely. This also left Rory free to do his man-marking job. However, one player yesterday really stood out as the best player on the pitch and that was Ben. His midfield partnership with Will helped nullify the clever Tower midfield and in the second-half, he was breaking up attacks and driving forward with real skill and purpose. His brace of goals were an apt reward for an epic game.

The game was played in terrific spirit too and as ever, Tower Hill proved a worthy challenge for our small but determined squad.

Player of the Week: a choice between the herculean Rory, the decisive Leo but in the end, it had to be Ben.