CUMNOR MINORS 0 - KIDLINGTON YOUTH COMETS 3

After a good game last week of four quarters - this week we were in for a game of two halves.  At home to Kidlington, we were hoping for a more enjoyable game than the last one against these opponents, which was rather spoilt by a ref giving out cards as if it was everyone's biorthday.   With Mark off supporting Ollie in the Oxford half marathon, Ian got the team going with some rousing words. And the ref warned everyone to be on their best behaviour.   Cumnor chose to play downhill towards the hedge in the first half.    In a change to the normal line-up - MEHMET THE CONQUEROR started up front with DOM.  All were hoping MEM's new go-faster haircut was going to bring us luck and goals..  The pitch was still pretty hard and bobbly and control was difficult.  But the boys began really well. Lots of attacks down the left with HARRY and JAMIE whipping in balls - and ELLIOTT and WILL combining well down the right.   But Kidlington were really well organised in defense and closing down DOM everytime he got on the ball. Everyone was working hard and we were dominating possession but Kidlington looked smart on the counter-attack and the defense had to be sharp.  And they were,  CAMERON was clearing up everything - timing his tackles and using his head to good effect.  SCOTT was strong - and JOHN and ELLIOTT were keeping things quiet down the flanks. They mopped up pretty much everything except one break on the counter. With ADAM to beat the Kidlington player put it wide past the right hand post.  But other than that there wasn't much for ADAM to do.   JAMIE and GEORGE were industrious in midfield and kept the ball down the hedge-end.   But while we dominated possession - we were finding it hard to make any really clearcut chances and get shots off.   MEHMET had a good header.that slipped wide - and another shot which went straight at the keeper.  WILL had a low shot that went wide.   Towards the end of the half HARRY let fly one of his trade-mark lofted beauties from out left which hit the bar with keeper beaten. But their defence held firm and that was it - half-time 0-0.  Everyone was enjoying a good, tight, well-fought game.  MARK arrived like the cavalry charging across the horizon.   But without the horses.  Or the guns.

Second half  TOM was one for Mehmet up front and COOKIE for Elliott at right back. And the half started in much the same vein as the first.   But although we were playing uphill, things then rather went downhill.  Kidlington now had the slope and were seeing more of the ball and making more of their attacks.   HARRY was continuing to make an impact down the left with several crosses and one shot that hit the roof-netting.  MATTHEW was now on on the right. Then Kidlington won a corner - the ball beat ADAM first-time and was heading for goal, somehow ADAM and COOKIE (?) combined to clear it over the bar. Another corner came in almost identical to the first and this time they got a clean header at the back-post.  1-0 to Kidlington.   TOM got himself in good positions for a couple of chances, GEORGE was strong as ever and WILL l got on the ball but Cumnor weren't linking up as well as in the first half.   Despite some classy touches, DOM still had two or three players around him each time he got the ball. Several corners failed to fall to Cumnor feet.   Then the ref picked ADAM up for goal-kicking outside his box. Minutes later he gave HARRY a warning for back-chat.   And a few minutes later the red-mist descended on HARRY and he went in late on a Kidlington player.  It was a straight red.  Although down to ten men, at one-nil down Cumnor were still in the game.  But nothing was quite coming off and Kidlington were not giving us space.  The defence continued to battle, ADAM pulled off a sharp save to push a shot over the bar but the usual Cumnor confidence and fighting spirit seemed to have rather departed the team.  i blame the kit sponsors.  Over-committed in search of the equaliser, from a Cumnor corner Kidlington raced down the other end and two on one slotted the ball home.  2-0.  A couple of minutes later and they made it three.  Final score 0-3.  A good tight game in the first half had rather slipped away.    A disappointing end to a game we were in, until very near the end.  But never mind, we'll be back.   Next week, it's a cup game against Marston Saints - and who knows we may even keep 11 men on the field all game!   Come on you Blues!

Man of the match - the whole defence played well, SCOTT was solid as a rock but MOM was CAM 'SHAKIN' STEVENS who let his legs do the talking.