Crowmarsh Crown Secured

Cumnor travelled with a strong squad of 14 players to Crowmarsh.  Teams were picked in the car, groups were decided by a coin toss and the boys set to work on navigating their groups.

Cumnor (Ben, Matt, Will, Charlie, Fyn, Joseph and Toby) secured 3 wins and a draw, rotating positions well and scoring plenty of goals along the way.  Matt scored (twice) on his return to Cumnor football, Will scored plenty, Ben calmly slotted another penalty (despite Joseph trying to claim he should take it), Fyn grabbed important goals, whilst Charlie, Toby and Jospeh (+Matt in goal) ensured the team exited the group without conceding.

Cumnor Blues (Adam, Harry, Sam, Kyle, James, Rory and Nathan) initially found their group tougher going, securing a couple of tough 1-0 wins (which included a wonder strike from James to beat Abingdon). In the latter stages of the group, things started to move and goals became easier to come by.   Adam scored a few (often encouraged to shoot by the other Cumnor team), James continued to find the net, and Harry, when released from between the sticks, was a revelation.  Nathan and Sam showed a family trait of tireless hard work whilst Kyle and Rory made sure no goals were conceded in the qualifying process.  Cumnor Blues finished as the highest group winner and so secured a bye in the quarter final.

Cumnor played Hinksey in the QF, knowing that a win would lead to a semi-final against Cumnor Blues. The team had perhaps its poorest game of the afternoon, struggling to breakdown a team that it had beaten 3-0 in the group stages. After a goalless 8 minutes we were in to sudden death extra time. Suddenly Hinksey broke through on Matt's goal - we thought it was all over - but Matt pulled of a great save to keep the scores level. With time running out Ben broke forward, beat three players (probably the same player 3 times?) and squared for Will who managed to bundle the ball over the line.  1-0 and into the semis.

Cumnor vs Cumnor Blues - what a match up.  Zero goals conceded by both teams - something had to give. With the referee fearing a blood bath, the boys were very restrained, polite even.  The game had few chances, however Will put Cumnor ahead on 6 minutes.  Cumnor Blues pressed for the equaliser, and with seconds to go, Kyle seemed to beat virtually the whole Cumnor team and stood up a cross to the back post - Sam charged in - and put it just wide.   Cumnor through to the final.

The delights of Oxford Irish awaited Cumnor in the final.  OI scored first through a long throw (a tactic they employed often), and had the best of the first 5 minutes, with Matt keeping Cumnor in the game.  Cumnor created more and more as time went on, and eventually Joseph found Will who banged home the equaliser. There was just time for the KO before the whistle went. Sudden death extra time ensued, which, OI's long throws apart, went without incident.  Level at full time, it was time for the penalty shoot out.  3 each initially, then sudden death.  Could Cumnor hold their nerve?  Could Matt be the hero?  Time would tell.

1. Ben - bottom left - goal
2. Will - smashed right - goal
3. Fyn - stroked right - goal

3-3 at the end, into sudden death:

1. Joseph - curled right - goal.    Matt then saves the OI 5th attempt
2. Toby - with the chance to win the cup - stroked right - goal

Pandemonium ensues, and off the team go to pick up the first tournament trophy of 2014.  Special mention for Fyn (his first ever tournament win in a Cumnor shirt after 7 years of trying), Charlie, winning on his Cumnor debut and Matt for his heroics between the sticks.