So how best to describe this fixture?
Long journey, horrible playing conditions, hard-working, three points, top of the league!
Town Vets made the arduous journey to Henley Town last night, to once again face Woodley Town Vets (Our third meeting this season). Town had been triumphant on the two previous meetings (4-1 at home in the league and 2-0 away in the cup) and knew this was going to be a tough proposition with the long journey (1hr 30mins), swirling wind, wet playing surface and a stretched squad.
Town started the brighter and soon took control of proceedings, when in the 6th minute left back Dave Legg took his parachute off and a stepped forward into the United penalty area, before unleashing a drive on goal which struck the crossbar, before looping down in front of goal where the ever-sprightly Pat Graham was on hand to notched his second goal in two games with a great volley finish. Soon after and it should have been two when Graham was found by a great Damo Francis cross, but his header agonisingly went wide of the opposite post.
The home side were feeling their way back into the game and on 19 minutes they had their first chance but the resulting header was tame and easily collected by Lee Ruddle. Norris Redman then had Town’s next opportunity, when a quick turnover of play saw him through on goal, but his effort was deflected over the target by a home defender. On 31 minutes Town had a very good shout for a penalty, but the match official waved away the requests for a spot kick.
Town finally got the second goal on 37 minutes which they deserved when Francis and Legg played some neat football down the left before Matt Grantham fed the ball to Graham whose layoff to the onrushing Paulo Hulme was inch perfect for him to apply the finish to a great Town goal and allow us to go into the halftime break 2-0 up.
The first half had been hard work with the wind blowing into our faces and defending up the slope and it was hoped we could squeeze up the pitch higher in the second half and apply the pressure on a home side who were confident in their passing from the back. The opening 15 minutes were fairly even, but the wind had changed direction and Town were struggling to gain any momentum following three substitutions at the break and our movement off the ball was lacking.
This period of play saw the home side grab a lifeline when a ball split the midfield into the striker, who took on the two remaining Town defenders before lifting the ball over the diving Ruddle, who watched agonisingly as the ball looped off him into the net. The home side were now on top and Town were getting a little frustrated by the match officials decisions and a couple of yellow cards were received for Thompson and Yates, but despite the home sides pressure they did not cause Ruddle any alarm and in the last moments, Redman had a header from a corner cleared off the line, before the final whistle was blown and Town go into the Christmas break, top of the table.
The Gaffer commented at the final whistle
“It wasn’t pretty tonight. Every roadwork in Oxfordshire hampered our journey, the pre-match prep wasn’t ideal but we got on top early and the first half display was impressive considering the wind in our faces and defending up the slope. We just couldn’t get to grips with the game in the second half and fair play to United, they pushed us all the way and despite beating them three times this season, all the games have been hard work and well-earned victories. The squad was also stretched tonight with three defenders missing and our two top scorers as well. I thought our back four were immense tonight.”
Match Squad: Lee Ruddle, Phil Thompson, Dave Legg, Damian Francis, Gary Sutton(c), Nick Wojcik, Troy Redman, Paul Hulme, Colin Yates, Pat Graham, Matt Grantham, Craig Gaynor, Aidan Streete, Gavin Stevens, Subs Unused, Joel Francis, Martin Harries
MOTM: Gary Sutton (Lead by example, running on empty for most of the match due to illness)
DOTD: Mike Marsh (Cheers Sip!) & Troy Redman (Amazing skills in the home penalty area!)
