Or, to be more specific, a case of a D or a T. This Saturday I made the short trip towards Oxford to pay a visit to the village with two names. Bletchingdon or Bletchington? Take your pick. The village appears to be quite happy to use both. In fact, both names are used at the football club where both Bletchington's adult team and Bletchingdon Youth play. So, whilst Bletchingdon is the historic name, it seems that Bletchington is also used and the names are interchangeable.
Today's game was between mid-table Bletchington and third placed Witney Town. The hosts had won two of their six games so far whereas their visitors had four victories plus a draw to their name after the same number of matches. Town were also coming into the game boating a 100% away record, three from three.
The teams had been promoted together last season, Witney winning the league and Bletchington finishing in third spot, 13 points further back. Both league encounters ended in home wins. Witney won 5-1 at home, whilst this fixture ended 3-1 to Bletchington.
My pre-match quest to find team sheets was, unfortunately curtailed when match official, Kevin Barker, informed me that he couldn't let me see the sheets because of a safeguarding restriction around players under the age of 18. Witney's line-up weas published on social media, so presumably it's the Bletchinton squad that has the under 18 players. So, it's a truncated match report section but, as always, I'm happy to make any corrections if notified.
Today's game was between mid-table Bletchington and third placed Witney Town. The hosts had won two of their six games so far whereas their visitors had four victories plus a draw to their name after the same number of matches. Town were also coming into the game boating a 100% away record, three from three.
The teams had been promoted together last season, Witney winning the league and Bletchington finishing in third spot, 13 points further back. Both league encounters ended in home wins. Witney won 5-1 at home, whilst this fixture ended 3-1 to Bletchington.
My pre-match quest to find team sheets was, unfortunately curtailed when match official, Kevin Barker, informed me that he couldn't let me see the sheets because of a safeguarding restriction around players under the age of 18. Witney's line-up weas published on social media, so presumably it's the Bletchinton squad that has the under 18 players. So, it's a truncated match report section but, as always, I'm happy to make any corrections if notified.
Holloway from the spot Both teams were going to have to battle both the conditions and the pitch. In between the gusty wind and downpours, there were periods of bright sunshine. These changes in conjunction with a playing surface that caused many unexpected bobbles and bounces, meant that flowing football was never going to be the order of the day.
The teams also looked to be fairly well matched, trading half chances in the opening 15 minutes. Adam Holloway for Witney delaying too long and being crowded out and Harry Brennan for the home side, latching onto along ball but sending his shot wide of the mark.
Tom Bennington, in the Town goal, had to deal with a shot on target form Bletchington's centre-forward before Ryan Oliver sent a dipping effort in on goal that the home keeper did well to grab at the second opportunity, after the ball took a nasty skip in front of him. That was in the 25th minute and, a minute later, Witney were awarded a penalty following a clear trip in the area. Adam Holloway stepped up and fired the spot-kick high to the keeper's right. 0-1
The response form Bletchington was almost immediate after they were awarded an indirect free-kick on the edge of the area. The ball was touched to their Number 14 but his goal-bound effort was deflected wide for a corner.
With eight minutes remaining, Witney doubled their lead and, from the home team's perspective, it was all way too easy. A looping cross from the left found Mercayd Morgan-Allen, all alone ten yards out. He planted his header past the keeper and Witney were cruising towards a two-goal leas at the break. 0-2
A minute later it could easily have been even better when Jack Morton's close-range effort was well blocked by the home keeper. The ball span up in the air only to be headed off the line by a defender. The keeper was then called into action again, blocking with his feet this time, after Andrew Gunn arrived at the far post to power a header in from a few yards out. Morgan-Allen could also have had a second, but dragged the shot wide when clean through.
Of course, after coming close to being out of sight before the break, Witney were then sucker-punched just before the break. Failing to completely clear their lines, the ball broke to Bletchington's number 9, who fired home from six yards. 1-2
HT Bletchington 1 Witney Town 2. Witney looked to be cruising at 2-0 and could easily have been three or four in front. However, it was by no means one-way traffic and Bletchington got a reward for their hard work when they pulled a goal back. Game on?
The teams also looked to be fairly well matched, trading half chances in the opening 15 minutes. Adam Holloway for Witney delaying too long and being crowded out and Harry Brennan for the home side, latching onto along ball but sending his shot wide of the mark.
Tom Bennington, in the Town goal, had to deal with a shot on target form Bletchington's centre-forward before Ryan Oliver sent a dipping effort in on goal that the home keeper did well to grab at the second opportunity, after the ball took a nasty skip in front of him. That was in the 25th minute and, a minute later, Witney were awarded a penalty following a clear trip in the area. Adam Holloway stepped up and fired the spot-kick high to the keeper's right. 0-1
The response form Bletchington was almost immediate after they were awarded an indirect free-kick on the edge of the area. The ball was touched to their Number 14 but his goal-bound effort was deflected wide for a corner.
With eight minutes remaining, Witney doubled their lead and, from the home team's perspective, it was all way too easy. A looping cross from the left found Mercayd Morgan-Allen, all alone ten yards out. He planted his header past the keeper and Witney were cruising towards a two-goal leas at the break. 0-2
A minute later it could easily have been even better when Jack Morton's close-range effort was well blocked by the home keeper. The ball span up in the air only to be headed off the line by a defender. The keeper was then called into action again, blocking with his feet this time, after Andrew Gunn arrived at the far post to power a header in from a few yards out. Morgan-Allen could also have had a second, but dragged the shot wide when clean through.
Of course, after coming close to being out of sight before the break, Witney were then sucker-punched just before the break. Failing to completely clear their lines, the ball broke to Bletchington's number 9, who fired home from six yards. 1-2
HT Bletchington 1 Witney Town 2. Witney looked to be cruising at 2-0 and could easily have been three or four in front. However, it was by no means one-way traffic and Bletchington got a reward for their hard work when they pulled a goal back. Game on?
Bletchington come close If not game on at the break, it certainly was six minutes into the second half. Maybe Witney had not managed to shake off the late goal back, but they were not fully awake when a long throw was launched into the area from the left. It was flicked on at the near post to be challenging by a group at the back pots. The ball ended in the net with Bletchington's number 9 celebrating, presumably after getting the final touch. 2-2
Conceding the equaliser roused the Town players who could, and should, have restored their lead five minutes later after Holloway burst down the left before squaring to an unmarked Morgan-Allen inside the box. However, with only the keeper to beat, the striker got his feet all wrong and scuffed the effort.
Just past the hour Ryan Oliver fired in a free-kick that took a nasty deflection but was dealt with admirably by the home goalkeeper. Five minutes later, however, the home defence was undone again. A long ball caused all sorts of problems, with the ball squirming loose, into the path of Jack Morton. His strike was far from clean, but accurate enough to beat the keeper and nestle the ball into the bottom corner. 2-3
Bletchington upped the effort again after falling behind. Captain Steve Barker brought the best out of Benington with a long-range effort that the keeper was at full stretch to push around the post. It was all hands to the pump for the visitors in the final ten minutes and there were one or two scares as the home side threw everything at them, all to no avail. Even with close to 10 minutes of added time, Bletchington couldn't quite find a way through.
FT Bletchington 2 Witney Town 3. A hard-earned victory for Witney, who extend their 100% away record to four games and leap into second spot, only behind Shipston Excelsior on goal difference. Bletchington slip one place into eighth after Graven Hill's 3-1 defeat of Yarnton Reserves.
Next week Bletchington are back at home as they face a local derby with 10th placed Kidlington A. Witney are also at home taking on A Charlton United side who currently reside in the relegation zone.
Witney Town: 1.Bennington, 12.Jackson, 3.Smalladon, 4.Miles, 5.Gunn, 6.Shayler, 7.Oliver, 8.Preston-Carney, 9.Morgan-Allen, 10.Morton, 11.Holloway. Subs: 14.Rearden, 15.Aidi, 17.Dix, 18.Robinson, 19.Kamara
Conceding the equaliser roused the Town players who could, and should, have restored their lead five minutes later after Holloway burst down the left before squaring to an unmarked Morgan-Allen inside the box. However, with only the keeper to beat, the striker got his feet all wrong and scuffed the effort.
Just past the hour Ryan Oliver fired in a free-kick that took a nasty deflection but was dealt with admirably by the home goalkeeper. Five minutes later, however, the home defence was undone again. A long ball caused all sorts of problems, with the ball squirming loose, into the path of Jack Morton. His strike was far from clean, but accurate enough to beat the keeper and nestle the ball into the bottom corner. 2-3
Bletchington upped the effort again after falling behind. Captain Steve Barker brought the best out of Benington with a long-range effort that the keeper was at full stretch to push around the post. It was all hands to the pump for the visitors in the final ten minutes and there were one or two scares as the home side threw everything at them, all to no avail. Even with close to 10 minutes of added time, Bletchington couldn't quite find a way through.
FT Bletchington 2 Witney Town 3. A hard-earned victory for Witney, who extend their 100% away record to four games and leap into second spot, only behind Shipston Excelsior on goal difference. Bletchington slip one place into eighth after Graven Hill's 3-1 defeat of Yarnton Reserves.
Next week Bletchington are back at home as they face a local derby with 10th placed Kidlington A. Witney are also at home taking on A Charlton United side who currently reside in the relegation zone.
Witney Town: 1.Bennington, 12.Jackson, 3.Smalladon, 4.Miles, 5.Gunn, 6.Shayler, 7.Oliver, 8.Preston-Carney, 9.Morgan-Allen, 10.Morton, 11.Holloway. Subs: 14.Rearden, 15.Aidi, 17.Dix, 18.Robinson, 19.Kamara
Bletchingdon Sports & Social Club
The Ground
Bletchingdon Sports & Social Club is situated just to the South of the village of Bletchingdon, between Bicester and Kidlington. The club provides a variety of sports to the local community including Cricket, Aunt Sally, Darts, Bar billiards and, of course, football. Accessed via a service road that runs alongside the cricket pitch and then between the football pitch and clubhouse, there's a reasonably sized car park with additional parking on the service road or in the large layby opposite the entrance. The clubhouse has a good-sized, covered patio area that overlooks the football pitch. This proved very handy today with the frequent squalls that passed over during the match. There's no further spectator cover, but there are two breeze-block dugouts on the far side of the ground.
Ground Number: 467
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Bletchingdon Sports & Social Club is situated just to the South of the village of Bletchingdon, between Bicester and Kidlington. The club provides a variety of sports to the local community including Cricket, Aunt Sally, Darts, Bar billiards and, of course, football. Accessed via a service road that runs alongside the cricket pitch and then between the football pitch and clubhouse, there's a reasonably sized car park with additional parking on the service road or in the large layby opposite the entrance. The clubhouse has a good-sized, covered patio area that overlooks the football pitch. This proved very handy today with the frequent squalls that passed over during the match. There's no further spectator cover, but there are two breeze-block dugouts on the far side of the ground.
Ground Number: 467
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Testing conditions
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