With time running out we looked almost down but not quite out. Bloxham will wonder how first victory slipped through their fingers then secondly they trudged off tasting a bitter defeat. In the early exchanges we looked cool and composed, pushing our visitors onto the back foot and had a few decent opportunities to score but unfortunately we couldn’t hit the target. Bloxham went close with an effort that came back into our stand-in keeper, Jake Manning’s’ arms off the far post. This was a warning shot that we failed to heed and soon after Jacob Bedlow ghosted in at the back post to give Bloxham the lead. The goal upset our earlier rhythm and for a ten minute spell we rode our luck as Jacob again found the woodwork with another long range shot. Some good wing play forced us back into the game and after George and Joe worked the short corner we got ourselves on level terms with a spectacular strike from Will Hawtin who strode up from the defence and hit an unstoppable effort into the top corner. We finished the half strongly but couldn’t find a break through and went off level at half-time. Defensively we had improved and were keeping our opponents a good distance from our goal.
After the re-start we again lost the spark that we had begun to generate before the turnaround. Bloxham were quicker to the loose ball and seemed much hungrier to taste victory. Luke and Will both fought hard at set pieces to keep us on terms with some towering headers but the long shots continued and twice more the woodwork was our friend with Jake well beaten. When Bloxham did find the target Jake was a match for them with two excellent saves. After fifteen minutes of solid Bloxham attacks we eventually succumbed to a scrappy goal. Bedlow again tried an effort from distance only this time it was well blocked. The ricochet was not kind to us and Liam Townsend had the simple task of tapping home the rolling ball. The goal was the kick up the backside we needed. George went up top to play alongside Charlie and slowly but surely we began to turn the tide. With Ned moving out to the right flank , Joe and Luke filled the two central positions. Dan and Cameron were installed in defence as we began to crank up the pressure. Sam and Tom linked well down the left and we were beginning to get lots of joy and force the issue. We just couldn’t find an equaliser. With the time ticking by it was from another corner we finally got level for the second time. Luke MacDonald let fly from the edge of the area through a crowded box and the unfortunate keeper could only watch in despair as the ball squeezed between his legs. At this point there was barely two minutes left on the clock and it appeared we had just nicked a point. When Jake picked up the ball and launched a hopeful punt forward George flicked on and gave chase. His second touch fell between defender and keeper and in the ensuing panic it was a Bloxham foot that sent the ball into the net. We had rode our luck at times, played some nice football at times, been second to the ball at times but somehow stole the points at the vital time. It is sometimes nice to get a lucky break and so we’ll take this victory as a kick start to the season. Next week we face Grendon and will certainly have to make our own luck in that game. Tyler and Harlie were sacrificed in attempt to get back into the game and for once the subs proved decisive. Well done lads first win of this campaign. We have an excellent squad of boys this time around and will need everyone to be at their best in every game. Big thanks to our reluctant replacement goalie Jake Manning . See you all Tuesday at six.
