Some times in football it is hard to believe a team could score once, let alone the four times Oakridge and Castlefield did today.
Old oak fell to a narrow 4-3 berks and bucks cup defeat, the score line does not do the game justice,e the opposition scoring with there only 4 shots on target. Other than a mad 8 minute spell when we conceded 3 times we rarely look troubled.
From the kick off we assumed almost total control going close several times in the opening minutes, controlling midfield but having little to show for our early dominance other than a nasty boot to the face of Ryan coker resulting in him having to be replaced temporarily by Tom Wilkinson. Twenty minutes in and we finally had the breakthrough a corner from shadbolt caused havoc in the defence, carter flicking the ball across the goal for the on rushing Gunnell to head in from 3 yards out. As has happened throughout the opening few pre season and league games we became our own worst enemy and within 2 minutes the away side were level with barely their first attack on goal, a ball played down the right hand side caught out the defence allowing the Oakridge striker to race through and finish at the second attempt despite the best efforts of keeper Dan Ing. Unbelievably within the next 8 minutes Oakridge found themselves 3-1 ahead courtesy of two long range strikes which keeper Ing will be disappointed to have been beaten with. The remainder of the first half was spent camped in the oakridge half again the final ball and finishing let us down and we could have quite easily gone in at half time 3 or 4 goals ahead instead we were 2 behind.
With changes needed to change the game manager gunnell utilised the 'rolling sub' rule to make several changes replacing Roberts, Keattch & Carter and bringing on Rodriguez, Wilkinson & Janes. The second half began with wave after wave of attacks, Rodriguez, Coker, Piercey & Shadbolt all going close to reducing the deficit. Some what inevitably Oakridge then added a 4th goal from distance this chance leaving keeper Ing with no chance. a further changes was then made with the impressive Matt Ing being replaced by Aaron barlow at full back. Yet again we dominated for long periods having several chances from corners, in addition to this several over hit final through balls and when we did get clean through a very eager linesman's flag frustrated us. On 78 minutes we had a deserved goal back Wilkinson crossing delightfully for Alfie webb making his debut to bundle the ball across the line & within 3 minutes we were right back in the game, Ebberson collecting the ball from Wilkinson before jinking past 2 defenders to calmly shot across the goalie to make the score 3-4. Despite the two quick strikes we were unable to force an equaliser several presentable chances where again wasted, however the most controversial decision came within the last minute of the game, the ball breaking to alfie webb who beat his man only too be tripped as he was about to put the ball in the net, despite protest from the strike force which now contained Gunnell, Horse, Wilko, Carter and Piercey the ref appeared not to see the foul and blew up for full time.
All in all a very frustrating day, I cannot think of a game I have watched where a team has had so much possession and so many chances yet failed to win. Put aside the poor refing decision and questionable linesman calls there is no doubt we should have one this game. Individual errors have yet again cost us what should have been a routine victory.
That said I cannot fault the effort of everyone out there today who kept going right until the final whistle. Very tough decision for Man of the Match this week, special mentions for Pete Ebberson(cant believe you were not in hazlemere firsts last year) who ran himself into the ground again today, Tony shadbolt who was a constant threat on both the left and right wings, Aaron Barlow and matt ing who had solid games at full back, but the award goes to MATT GUNNELL for his all-round performance in Defence & Attack.
