After several weeks of tough training, the time had come at last for Benny to pit his wits in a pre season game. He named a 17 man squad to take to the field against local rivals and a team 4 divisions above Boythorpe. Both sides put on a great show on a pitch that had to have cones marking out the lines and was in great need of the grass cutting.
As early as the 1st minute Boythorpe almost stole the lead when Lee Walton coolly slotted the ball through for last seasons leading scorer Lee Wright to run onto, but the ball was just too strong for him. On 5 mins good work again by Walton found his brother Paul who crossed the ball, but it ran through to the grateful keeper. 2 mins later a lovely 1-2 between Goodwin and debutant Shane Bennett found the busy Lee Walton who put his effort just wide. Oak had thier first serious chance on 9 mins as they beat the off side trap but the striker shot well over without troubling Furniss.
Boythorpe took a deserved lead after 12 mins, Lee Wright found PAUL WALTON in midfield, he carried the ball on before lashing a rasping shot from 25 yards out that the keeper although got a hand to the ball was unable to keep the shot out. Boythorpe pushed forward again and Wright beet the offside trap and the keeper but rushed his shot and fired wide. Oak then put Boythorpe under a bit of pressure but themselves were unlucky on 18 mins as Paul Walton rounded the keeper has his legs taken from under him but the ref inexplcably waved the calls for a penalty away.
Oak drew the scores level on 21 mins as Boythorpe lost the ball in midfield and Bonson just failed to knock the ball back to Furniss and the Oak striker slipped the ball past the oncoming keeper. Within 2 mins Boythorpe almost regained the lead as Lee Walton skipped past 3 players before before being tripped only for the ref to again wave play on.
On the half hour Oak took an undeserved lead as a corner caused chaos in the blues defence, a shot was superbly tipped onto the undeside of the bar and out by Furniss but the ball fell again to the striker and he scored at the 2nd time of asking. On 32 mins Goodwin limped off with a recurrence of an injury picked up in training, to be replaced by new boy Scott Bennett, this move paid dividends within 6 mins as Benett found LEE WRIGHT who stedied himself before slotting the ball beyond the diving keeper for a half time equaliser. HALF TIME Boythorpe...2 Brampton Royal Oak...2.
Benny made 5 changes during the half time break putting on a completly new back four, they looked shaky from the start but it was Boythorpe who almost took the lead on 52 mins, Lee Walton took the ball from well in his own half and weaved his way through the midfield and into the Oak 18 yard box before being hauled down for a penalty. Brown struck the ball hard and away from the keeper, but it crashed back off the post and safe.Two mins later good work by the 2 Lees saw the ball just evade Scott Bennett, and again Boythorpe were punished for not taking thier chances as Johnson cleared the ball as far as a lurking Oak midfielder who put the ball back over, the striker stepped away from Johson to give himself room before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Boythorpe pushed for a leveller and went close twice inside a minute, Lee Walton had a shot tipped over, and from the resulting corner the same players snap shot was blocked. It was only a short reprive for Oak as within a minute of this Paul Walton won the ball in midfield and pushed the ball up the line for Bettney to cross and pick out WRIGHT in space inside the box who finnished easilly for 3-3. Just after the hour Boythorpes defence were caught napping but Furniss saved well again. After 68 mins Boythorpe took a deserved lead Wright found LEE WALTON who capped off a fine performance with a goal.
Boythorpe AGAIN shot theselves in the foot as Cartwright was caught out with pace and caught the strikers heel as they got into the box, the striker went down and a penalty was awarded.Oak made no mistake from the spot and with just 18 mins left the scores were tied again.Boythorpe though are made from much stronger stuff now and with just 4 mins left took the lead AGAIN, a Paul Walton flick found LEE WRIGHT who scored another hat trick for himself. Boythorpe saw out the last remaining minutes a testament to all the tough training they have been through, A very creditable victory. FULL TIME Boythorpe...5 Brampton Royal Oak...4
