Old Oak went in to Sundays game with AFC Liberal knowing there title chances were all but over but they could still have a massive say on were the title was headed.
They went in to the game without key players Hall and Peircey who had both been massive players since Christmas and Ryan Coker serving the final game of his suspension so manager Gunnell decided on a 4-2-3-1 formation with Sean Coker playing in the hole behind lone front man Patrick Searing who was back for a week from University and available for selection.
The game started brightly for Oak with showing a fight they had not shown the last time the sides met and on 9 minutes Searing put the ball in the back of the net with the assist from Sean Coker.
Liberal’s best threat was coming from there number 7 winger who was getting no joy down the left hand side with Burton keeping him quiet and frustrated the winger changed sides and was still having no joy against Shadbolt who was had a superb game at left back.
Liberal were having a lot of the ball but creating nothing with big centre forward Butch having no joy at set pieces being totally taken out of the game. Summers made 2 excellent close range saves however on 30 minutes a mix up between captain Hawkins and keeper Summers let the Liberal striker have a clear strike on goal despite getting a hand on it the ball went in to the net. Going in at half time the message was very positive from Gunnell and McNeill a hard working display by the team and much of the same was required against a very good Liberal side who looked good in possession.
The 2nd half started brightly again for Oak with a few half chance and arguably against the run of play Liberal took the lead on the hour from a corner it looks like Ebberson was about to make a clear header away but with a clear push in the back the ball droped in the 6 yard box for a Liberal player to smash the ball home. Oak players and management were aggrieved with the goal being given especially as the ref had given most decisions were a player had raised his hands and this was a clear decision that being said Oak went again and when the ball dropped in the box and superb controlled volley by Searing for his 2nd goal of the game brought the game back to 2-2.
The game has become more stretched and it only took 3 minutes for Liberal to restore their lead a fluke ball went through the middle of the Oak defence and caused mass confusion and 1 of Liberals strikers was first to react and put the ball home.
With 15 minutes to go despite arguably bettering there much larger opponents oak found themselves 3-2 when they had a corner swung in from the right by left footer Shadbolt this fooled everyone and went directly in and with only 1 game to go Tony Shadbolt had finally scored his first goal for Old Oak and he owed it to a lot of luck. Liberal player surrounded the referee about a push on the back post by Sean Coker allowing the ball to go directly in they had a very good case however it could be argued that this evened it out after Liberal’s seconds goal.
With 10 minutes to go Old Oak felt they could get a winner throwing Mark Janes on up front with Coker and Searing and Shadbolt now on either wings with only 2 minutes to go a cross from the right hand side went to the head of Janes but the ball went straight in to the keeper hand.
At the final whistle Liberal players saw their title hopes slipping away while the Old Oak players saw how much the team had grown from the 1 that had layed down in their 5-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
A man of the match performance from Tony Shadbolt who spent much of his game stopping the wide threat of Liberal but also showing his attacking credentials and finally getting off the mark all be it with a bit of fortune.
