Town Vets made it 10 unbeaten since the opening game of the season, when they defeated promotion challengers Oxford City A 2-1 at Abingdon Town’s Culham Road ground last night, in the Uhlsport Hellenic Veterans Division One League.
The pitch was mainly heavy, however, the far side was still partially frozen, but all the players got on with the match which was played in a competitive but good spirit. The opening 10 minutes were fairly even with both sides trying to find each other out. On 11 minutes Town carved out the opening chance, Paul Hulme broke through the home sides back line from the left-hand side, his first touch was heavy, which meant he was stretching as he shot and the lifted ball was gathered by the advancing keeper.
Moments later and it was Colin Yates who broke through from midfield and his cross found striker Paul Smith, but he couldn’t gain enough power on his header to test the keeper. Almost immediately the home side had their first opportunity as they shot from 10 yards which brought a great save from Town keeper Lee Ruddle, pushing the shot onto the bar before Town cleared to safety.
The next 20 minutes was a midfield battle, whilst Town had to reshuffle losing Smithy to sciatica, with Pat Graham replacing him. On 33 minutes Town broke the deadlock when a corner from the right found its way to Troy Redman at the far post. Norris smashed a left-footed waist-high volley, striking the underside of the crossbar, Norris celebrated and skipper Gary Sutton made sure on the line to force the ball home and also claimed the goal. With goal-line technology missing at our level, Norris was accredited with the goal, much to the skipper’s disgust! Soon after the goal and Town broke through again, this time Yatesy strode through on the right-hand side, but his effort was ‘WOVER’ (Wide & Over) and the half then came to a close.
0-1 HT
Halftime was taken in the changing room this week, rather than pitch-side to keep out of the bitterly cold wind. The lads made full use of the warmer changing room, whilst the ‘Gaffer’ tried to get the message across for them to keep applying pressure and not let City settle.
Town started brightly and within three minutes of the restart, it was 2-0 when a good move down the right between Glenn Townsend and Matt Grantham, saw Matty’s cross headed home, back across the goal by Pat and provide Town with a little buffer. Town played the next twenty minutes in the ascendancy, but without carving any real clear-cut chances, most going WOVER or shots not being taken at the necessary opportunities. Town’s movement was not being matched by the home side in the final third and the midfield was battling hard to win the ball back, whilst the back line kept its shape.
With 10 minutes remaining, the home side grabbed a lifeline as a corner from the right was headed goalwards from 10 yards and in slow motion, keeper Ruddle managed to dive, but forgot to gather the ball as it went through his arms!! This could have caused panic, but instead, Town kept pushing forward and Redman was unlucky when he was left one on one, but the advancing keeper smothered his effort. The home side did apply some late pressure but didn’t trouble the Town goal and the three points were claimed by Town and dent City’s promotion chances.
1-2 FT
Town Gaffer, Martin Harries commented afterwards
This was a real squad performance tonight, we lost Sippy prior to leaving (Cheers Sip!) but the 15 lads all put a shift in and had we taken some of the chances the score line could have been higher. That’s 10 league and cup matches unbeaten now, we are a point off the lead with two games in hand, so it’s up to us. We play Woodley United next week at Henley, which won’t be easy and so we need to match tonight’s effort at least. The fines kitty was bumped up nicely, with plenty of balls clearing the stands and a nice £120+ win on the MOTM scratch cards! On to next week lads………
Squad: Lee Ruddle, Glenn Townsend, Dave Legg, Damian Francis, Gary Sutton(c), Nick Wojcik, Phil Thompson, Paul Hulme, Paul Smith, Colin Yates, Troy Redman, Aidan Streete, Matt Grantham, Gav Stevens, Pat Graham.
MOTM: Damo & Thommo (Great engines in the midfield, covered so much ground)
DOTD: Sippy (Cheers Sip!)
