Oak headed into this fixture on the back off a poor performance and last minute defeat to penfold rangers last week. This was a workman like performance with the boys recovering from being a goal down at half time to take maximum points courtesy of a 2-1 win. A squad which has recently been depleted by several injuries to key players in recent times, this week was no different with Ryan Coker serving the second of a three match ban, Rodgriguez & Carpenter both still out with injuries and Roberts unavailable due to a prior engagement. The team showed one change from the previous weeks defeat, Hawken returning to the starting eleven in place of Roberts, which inturn allowed Shaun coker to play up front in a 4-4-2 formation. A recent upturn in defensive perfomances had seen very few goals conceded in the last month, however within 5 minutes of kick off we found ourselves 1-0 down, a corner from the left hand side was meet unchallenged by the hithercroft midfielder, the ball hit shadbolt on the line who was attempting to clear and fell at invitingly to the feet of the oppostion winger who made no mistake from 8 yards out 0-1. The early setback stirred Oak into action and we dominated possesion for long periods without creating an opening till roughly half way through the half, a ball down played through the middle of the Hithercroft defence fell at the feet of Hall who could only shoot straight at the keeper who had done well to come of his line and make it difficult for him. The oak pressure continued and on a couple of occasions Hall thought he had got clean through having done well to hold of defenders challenges only too be penalised for a foul. We were dominating the game and only the odd break away was causing any trouble, summers doing well to save a shot from the angle after the oppostion no.6 had got free down the right hand side. The oak pressure continued forcing several corners which were well dealt with by the hithercroft defence. Shaun coker got free down the right hand side and wiped in a great ball to the back post, with the keeper stuggling to catch it, the ball reached hall at the back post who struggled to get a decent connection which saw the ball drift out for goal kick. As the half reached its conclussion the ball got played to shadbolt on the left hand side of the box, having taken one touch he unleashed a fierce strike which beat the keeper but unfortunatley clipped the outside of the post, at this point it looked like we could play all day and might not score. H/T 0-1 Second half began with no changes to either side, although manager gunnell had already informed his team he was going to make a change in formation if the score remained the same on 60 minutes. The Oak pressure continued in the early stages of the second half, again final balls and decision making in the final third resulted in chances being wasted. The equaliser did come 8 minutes into the half, a combination down the left between burton and shadbolt forced a corner. Piercey fired in another well taken corner which was meet 6 yards out by Gunnell who powered a header past the keeper giving him no chance, the centre backs first league goal for the club 1-1. It must be said it was another fantastic delivery by Piercey who unsurpisngly leads the Assists stats this season. Within minutes oak were quite unlucky not to take the lead a ball was half cleared and was clipped back into the area for Shaun coker to tuck away only to be disallowed as it was deemed Hall who was in an offside position had interfered with play. On the whole the one way traffic continued with summers a specatator for long parts of the seconf half, on 70 minutes gunnell made his first change going to a 3-4-3 formation replacing Janes with Carter, within 30 seconds the change in tactic had worked, hall playing a long ball into the path of Coker who brushed aside his defender and slotted home 2-1. A feature of the second half saw centre half Gunnell stepping into midfield and exchanging passes with piercey, as he drove forward into the Hithercroft half he appeared to be fouled, the refferee saw it differently and allowed play to go one, Gunnell fruastrated with the decision question the ref and was booked for dissent. With the game entering the final 15 minutes a second change was made barlow replacing Hall who had picked up a knock which saw a change in formation back to 4-4-2.. Oak continued to press and a second goal was disallowed for offside the ball falling to carter 14 yards out who shot first time in off the underside of the crossbar however the linesman had raised his flag again. A final late change was made with Alfie webb replacing shadbolt who had seen a long range shot well saved. Entering stoppage time Wilkinson got free down the right hand side and shot powerfully from the angle which was well saved by the keeper, this was the last chance of a match which could of been won a lot more comfortably in truth F/T 2-1. Best way to describe this performance was a battling win, at times our level of play was not great, that said if we had won 5-1 i dont think the oppostion could of had many complaints. I was impressed with Shaun who worked hard upfront, Pete and JP in midfield who battled hard against there two best players and gunns who other than one missed header towards the end was his usual consitent self at the back. Man of the match this week goes to Matt Burton again who has settled into the left back spot well and is producing some excellent displays.
