Division 4 new boys continue to lay down a marker for the rest of the division with a comprehensive away victory to fellow new boys Ickford Reserves.
Another game, another stunning first half, featuring 5 goals, Old oak going in at half time 4-1 up. Old oak profited from a fast start to lead 3-0 after just 14 minutes. The first goal coming after 3 minutes, Searing racing onto a clever through ball by Carter to calmly finish and give us an early lead. We continued to pile forward and after 12 minutes a corner by JP caused havoc in the Ickford defence resulting in Simon Hawken rolling the ball into the path of Javier Rodriguez who smashed through a crowd of defenders to increase the 'Oak' lead. A third goal arrived just 2 minutes later, Searing collecting a loose pass from the ickford midfield to control and shoot from all of 35 yards, leaving the keeper only able to palm the ball into the bottom corner. Ickford hit back after 25 minutes their striker pouncing on some defensive hesitation to prod the ball into the net. We gained conrol for the rest of the half having several more chance, whilst Carter was becoming increasingly fruastrated with some linesman and refing decisions. Our pressure told on the stroke of half time through a bizarre goal, awarded a free kick on the half way line Piercey clipped a ball forward only to see it sail over the keepers head and into the top corner to restore our 3 goal advantage and see us take a 4-1 lead in at half time.
Half time team talk over and Manager Gunnell advising his team to keep playing the way they had done in the first half fell on deaf ears as within a mintute a defensive lapse had let in the Ickford winger who scored with a composed finish from an angle to pull the score back to 4-2. Again we quickly regained control of the game and it was as suprise we did not add any further goals, on 60 minutes Hawken & Janes were replaced, and within a minute we had our 5th goal had arrived, great team play down the left hand side involving Rodgriguez and Searing resulted in the ball be pulled back to the penalty box predator Carter who made no mistake, tucking the ball in the bottom corner from 8 yards out. Further chances came and went, substitue Shadbolt and Searing both unlcuky not to find the net before Carter made sure of the win on 75 minutes with another calm finish. With 10 minutes to go Carter saw a goal ruled out for offside which would have seen him claim a deserved hat-trick. One final chance came and went, the impressive Ebberson jinking between 4 defenders only to get tripped as he was surely about to score from 6 yards out. The ref had not choice but to award us a penatly, duties went to JP, having never missed one he suprisingly blazed over the bar. This turned out to be the last real action of the match with us running out comftable 6-2 winners.
Very pleased with a lot of things the team are currently doing, going forward we look like scoring in almost every attack. Defensivly there is still work to be done although on the whole it was and improved showing from last week.
6 points out of 6 and 12 goals scored, all in all a very good start. Lets keep it going lads.
Man of the match : Paddy Searing
