Town Reserves & A Team were unbeaten for the second weekend running, whilst Town under 12’s took the Youth plaudits on Sunday, with a terrific cup win over higher league opponents.
With the First Team without a fixture, the Reserves and A Team’s took centre stage for another weekend, with both gaining important points in their league campaigns.
The Reserves sat bottom of NBFL Division 2, going into the home fixture with Watlington Town, who were positioned one place higher, but with games in hand over the Reserves. The visitors took the game to Faringdon in the early stages, but failed to threaten the Reserves goal apart from a number of set pieces. The Reserves grew into the match and took the lead on 30 minutes when Max Scholefield’s well hit cross, struck a visiting defender and open the scoring. Town also struck both posts in the opening half, whilst the visiting keeper made some point blank saves. Into the second half and Town keeper Ian Oglesby wasn’t tested, whilst Town struck another upright and the Watlington keeper had to make a number of saves before and after Neil Docherty’s terrific volley on the hour mark. The win takes Town off the bottom of the division and closes the gap on the team above them.
The A Team welcomed promotion chasing Kennington Athletic to Tucker Park in NBFL Division 4, hoping to build on last weekends terrific victory. The visitors were quick out of the blocks and had the majority of the opening half’s possession, but failed to make their efforts count as only a speculative long range effort which deceived the Town keeper to show for their efforts at the half time break. After some strong words from the home management, Town improved in the second half and equalised through Adam Bird’s effort with 20 minutes remaining. Town pressed for a winner and were awarded a penalty kick after a foul on full back Andy Capper, however after much deliberation, the match official changed his decision and awarded a free kick just outside of the penalty area, which didn’t result to anything. Another rallying point for the A side and gives them another lift going into the final charge of the season.
Town under 10’s were the only Development side in action on Saturday morning and travelled to Kidlington Youth Arrows. The match was competitive and Town further enhanced their skills and team play.
The under 12’s from the C League, were big underdogs going into their Knockout Trophy Quarter Final, away at B League Abingdon United. The side more then matched their opponents and capped off a terrific performance with a 1-0 victory, to take them into the semi final, where they will meet Hinksey Park International from the same league who sprung a surprise winning 6-1 over Florence Park. Town and Park met recently, with Town winning 2-1 in a tight league encounter..
The under 13’s were hoping to put a dent in a fellow promotion/title challengers hopes, as they welcomed Cumnor Minors to Tucker Park on Sunday morning. Town who have two games in hand on Minors and league leaders Abingdon Youth, won 2-1 to put them firmly in the hunt of silverware.
Third place Town under 15’s travelled to league leaders Crowmarsh Youth, hoping to come away with three points and close the gap in the C League table. Town managed to come away with a 2-2 draw, which leaves them seven points adrift of Youth, however with three games in hand, so it’s still all to play for.
The under 17’s were at home on Sunday afternoon in B League action, hoping to gain a victory over visitors Summertown Stars at Tucker Park. Unfortunately, the side put in a disappointing performance and lost 3-1, a win which see’s the visitors go above 6th placed Town in the table.
