Despite putting up a brave fight Sinclair United were comprehensively beaten 6-0 at KEA in division one.
It was always going to be a difficult encounter for Steve Nash's side, who were up against a Bicester side who had yet to taste defeat and concede a league goal but as always want out with a determined attitude ahead of the fixture.
The same back four of Will Jones, Adam Timms, Luke Jarvis and Luke Whitehead started the game, with Paul Rogers sitting as the anchor man in a five-man midfield. Karl Woodcock and Ben Riley came into the middle and Ben Washington and Jason Pritchard were out on the wings.
And right from kick off it was a case of United standing firm against the dominant KEA side. And with the heavy rain lashing down the visitors held firm, with the team shape proving pivotal in keeping the lively KEA forwards from breaking the deadlock.
United were never going to be able to dictate the game as they normally do, so they were forced to defend most of the opening 45 minutes camped in their own half. Josh Nash played a lonely figure up front as he tried to latch onto hopeful balls up top, but was lively throughout despite having to do a lot of chasing.
And Nash was nearly rewarded with his persistence when a ball on the right saw him get the wrong side of the KEA defence and his shot flew agonisingly over the bar. It was United's best chance of the half and they certainly felt they had the quality to put pressure on KEA.
But the home side's dominance paid off when a lapse in concentration saw KEA go 1-0 up in the 35th minute. A passing play in the midfield saw a KEA player unleash a fierce drive which cannoned off the underside of the bar and the KEA forward was quickest to react and head home the rebound.
It was a sucker punch for United so close to half time, especially as the hosts were starting to get frustrated at not scoring as freely as they had been in other league matches. But it was soon to be 2-0 to KEA when a long ball over the top was sent to the right side and a pin point cross was headed back across and despite Stuart Ciballi getting a hand to the ball, it squirmed past his grasp and into the net.
United did have their opportunities as the game wore on however. A succession of free kicks close to the KEA penalty box were snuffed out by the dominant KEA defence.
And the game looked to be over by half time when KEA scored their third. Following a succession of corners, failure to clear their lines saw a goalmouth scramble with the KEA midfielder bundling the ball home.
It could have been worse for United as well when Jarvis was deemed lucky to stay on the pitch when he bundled the KEA forward down after being dispossessed. But the referee adjudged the forward to have fouled the Sinclair defender instead.
The half time whistle saw United take a lot of positives despite the scoreline. With other teams being on the end of a double figure scoreline against KEA, they were certainly making it difficult for the home side.
It was a case of damage limitation in the second half and it saw United camped in their own half once again and they withstood a barrage of KEA pressure. But KEA were to get their fourth goal of the game with a good passing move finished with a powerful strike into the far corner.
United were unable to resort to their normal attacking game throughout the half, and Nash was getting constantly frustrated as his teammates failed to find him with their passes. It was difficult to take from a Sinclair viewpoint and KEA were to get their fifth goal through another corner.
And United were to concede a sixth late on when another good attacking move saw the KEA captain unleash a fierce drive past Ciballi.
It was a tough day altogether for Steve Nash's side against arguably one of the best sides in the division. They are back in league action against Bodicote Sports at home, where they will be looking to bounce back with a win against an opponent who have yet to record a victory themselves.
UNITED: S Ciballi, W Jones, A Timms, L Jarvis, L Whitehead, P Rogers (D Wiles 70), J Pritchard, K Woodcock, B Riley, B Washington (T Jones 65), J Nash (M Coyne 80)
