Shrivenham Res v Faringdon – Match Report
A local derby midweek for us this week, another heavy pitch but we were up for it after our good results in previous weeks. We knew it would be tough and that’s exactly how it was.
We started first 5 mins OK but didn’t look ourselves. Shrivenham started to get on top of us and forced the first corner, we didn’t defend it well and was lucky not to concede from a free header, a let off.
We looked dangerous on the break with Christian Wills running at shrivenham direct and getting a couple of shots off but coming to nothing. Shrivenham had another good half chance when their forward got to the byline and zipped a ball across goal but no one was there for them. Town weren’t helping themselves, giving the ball away at times cheaply and not winning first and second balls. On 25 minutes Shrivenham pressure counted, a long ball towards the forward bounced off one of our defenders back straight into the forwards path, he slipped it wide to the winger who drove into the box and drilled the ball onto the net, shriv 1-0 up and Town needing to raise it.
Fortunately for us that’s what we did, within 5 mins our tempo and energy levels increased ten fold, we played 4-5 lovely quick passes down the right and got Christian in on goal, he just got to the ball before the defender, who fouled him in the box, penalty. Up stepped captain Matthew Pill who slotted home comfortably. 1-1.
Town continued to play with a high tempo and were winning a lot more first and second balls, we looked likely to push on and create another. We did get caught on the break by Shriv who had one of there midfielders make a late run in the box but he couldn’t control it. Town were unlucky not to get their second when Ryan Bradburys back heel found Tommy James who’s cross came back off the post into the path of Will Bazen but it came at him to quickly with no room to move.
Halftime
Town started well after the break continuing the high tempo, we had a corner that was whipped in by Ryan Bradbury to the back post but Mike van de Mortel heading wide. 2 mins later Tommy James again made a great run down the left channel, he drove across the byline and pulled it back towards Christian but he couldn’t make clean contact. Two really good chances that we needed to go in, this was our best spell of the second half as shrivenham started to come back into it. A corner for the home team was smartly cleared off the line by Ross Packham.
Ryan Bradbury was looking dangerous for town with a couple of great runs but again coming to nothing. A couple of ‘good’ fouls were made by towns defence to keep the Shriv forwards in check. Another corner for shriv was headed just over. Both teams trying hard to get that winning goal but both teams defending well and working hard. Last 5 minutes of the game Town finished strongly and the last kick of the game came from another good run from Ryan finding James Tranter who managed to get a shot off from the edge of the box, a slight deflection saw it loop towards the goal only for the keeper to tip the ball just over the bar with his finger tips. Head in hands moment as it was nearly there!! Full-time whistle 1-1.
Overall happy with the point considering our slow start and Shrivs strong start. We did exceptionally well to react to conceding the goal and get back in the game, we needed to get our second while we dominated the rest of the first half and the first ten minutes of second half. The lads have played two games in 4 days on sticky heavy pitches that sucks the energy out of you yet we still didn’t lose.
It keeps our momentum going and shows the desire to keep going to the end. Got a great team ethic and the lads are really working hard for each other. No game this sat so a well earned rest then back to it next week with a tough run of games that will show where we are at.
Final Score: Shrivenham Res 1 – 1 Faringdon Town
Man of Match: Josh Forth, made some crucial challenges and wears his heart on his sleeve
Tommy James, Unbelievable desire and energy levels
