Thursday evening was another opportunity to take in a Henry Hawtin group game, my third of the season. This was a Group A fixture between Chadlington of the Witney & District Premier League and Banbury & District  Premier League side, Deddington Town. Deddington started the evening already top of the group with four points. They led Charlbury on goal difference and were a point ahead of tonight's opponents.
The teams were in opposite groups for last season's competition. Deddington missed out on the semi-finals on goal difference, whilst Chadlington made it through to the semis but were beaten by eventual runners-up, Charlbury Town.
It was good to bump into Geoff again before kick-off. Deddington's photographer and videographer, who I met at one of their games 3 years ago, is still capturing the action at their games. Keep up the good work sir, I am sure it is very much appreciated.
Thanks too to Rob Smith, who I spotted carrying the team sheets over to the referee's room. Always good to get the names before the game starts. Hope the darts went well Rob.
 
Even though the evening had promised a little rain, it was still sunny and muggy prior to kick-off on the now parched Enstone Sports surface. Hopefully, the small sprinkling we had just after full-time went a little way to helping the grass recover, although I think we are going to need a few days of solid monsoon to get the greenery back.

​Kicking down the Enstone slope in the first half, Deddington had the initial meaningful attempt at goal when Ed Har was presented with a clear view of the goal, but pulled his shot wide. That was in the eighth minute but it took until the 20th minute, of a very tight contest, for either team to seriously trouble to goal again. The chance, once more, came the way of the team in black & white, Tim Atherton with a good strike that flew just wide of the target. Then, with the drinks break on the horizon, youngster Ethan Corley went on a dribble across the edge of the Chadlington box before seeing his shot deflected out for a corner.
As we saw in the World Cup, the drinks break can sometimes change the direction of a game and, in this case, it did to some extent. Whilst the game had been fairly well balanced, Deddington had created the better chances up until the break. However, straight after the restart, it was Chadlington who went on the offensive. Just before the half-hour mark, goalkeeper Leo Sansom had to be at his very best, making a great flying save to keep out Kian Crozier's freekick. At the other end, Eliot Hillman went very close with a powerful header that zipped narrowly wide of the Chadlington upright.
With six minutes of normal time remaining the deadlock was finally broken when Chadlington's Kyle Grimmett ran onto a loose ball some 20 yards out, striking a low, crisp effort into the bottom right-hand corner of Sansom's net, giving the keeper no chance at all. 1-0.
It looked as if the Blues may take a lead into the break, but Deddington had other ideas. A freekick some 25 yards out, deep into added time, looked to be being lined up for a right-footed strike. However, Gregor Smith stepped up to curl a left-foot shot around the wall and in off the inside of Betts' post. Great strike from the defender. 1-1

HT Chadlington 1 Deddington Town 1. All in all, a fairly even and very competitive half. Deddington edged it as far as the number of chances went, but Chadlington looked dangerous when they did attack. Two very good strikes saw the sides go into half-time level.

​When the second half got under way it was Chadlington who showed first when a cross from the right found substitute The Petrosanu running in at the far post but unable to get enough on the ball to trouble Sansom.
Clear cut opportunities then dried up a little as the sides cancelled each other out again. Just before the hour mark, however, there was almost a freak own goal scored by Chadlington. An attempted clearance, some 40 yards out, was smashed into another defender sending the ball looping backwards, over Josh Betts who was on the edge of his area. Luckily for Chadlington, the keeper recovered his ground quickly enough to dive backwards and scoop the ball off the line.
Isaac Harrington then tried his luck for Town, seeing his shot deflected out for a corner. That was just past the our mark, but a few minutes later, Harrington saw his team fall behind for the first time. The goal came courtesy of a superb delivery from Mike Large, who sent over an inch-perfect cross from the right. Dan Hirst met it at the far post, with a downward header that Betts couldn't keep out. 1-2
A very well-worked goal that was pleasing on the eye. However, Chadlington quickly countered with a 'hold my pint' moment of their own. Under a little pressure they suddenly broke down a Deddington move a proceeded to exchange a serious of passes in a flowing move that took them from back to front in seconds, culminating in Kyle Grimmett sweeping in his second goal of the game. 2-2. 
Once again, the game fell into something of a midfield battle, with neither keeper stretched for a while. As we approached the final five minutes, Joe Thornton managed to but clear on the Deddington right, but Josh Betts got his angles all right and made a solid block. It looked as if we were heading for a draw which, to be honest, would have been a very fair result.
However, after being treated to four goals that would all have justified numerous replays and discussion on match of the day, the game ended up being decided by a miscue. Deddington captain Ollie Withrow, out wide on the left, was looking to sending a looping ball back into the mix but, instead, got his radar slightly wrong and ended up floating the ball over the head of Betts into the far corner. 3-2
The goal was a bit harsh on Chadlington, but they didn't let their heads drop and, three minutes into injury time, came very close to levelling it up again. On a point-blank blocks from the legs of Leo Sansom prevented Harrington from salvaging a late point. However, it was not to be for Chadlington.

FT Chadlington 2 Deddington Town 3. A very entertaining game of football played on a hard pitch that couldn't have been easy to deal with. Both sides gave it everything they had and, as a neutral, I did feel that a draw would have been a fair result.
The result leaves Deddington in a very strong position to qualify for the semi-finals ahead of their final group game with Ducklington on August 8th. Chadlington, meanwhile, need to beat Witney Royals on the 6th of August and hope that Charlbury fail to pick up more than 2 points against Ducklington and Witney.

Chadlington: 1.Betts, 12.Cozier, 15.S.Harrington, 4.Mulhearn, 10.Godin, Ingham, 7.Mayne, 3.I.Harrington, 6.Bennett, 2.Grimmett, 9.Peachey. Subs: 8.Pterorios, 14.Petrosanu, 16.Donaghy, 11.Abbott, 17.Foster
Deddington Town: 1.Sansom, 17.Smith, 12.Hillman, 10.A.Atherton, 12.Hardy, 6.Whitrow(c), 14.Hirst, Hayward, 8.T.Atherton, 11.Thornton, 9.Corley. Subs: 2.Taylor, 5.Large, Catania, 15.Kimber

​Despite dominating the ball for much of this game, Staines & Lammas could not find a way back into the game after conceding two early goals to Bovingdon.

The Blue Swans were playing their first game of their centenary season, after their opening game at Sport Lisbon e Benfica was postponed (that's a much longer story that looks likely to drag on). After finishing in 16th spot last year, the Middlesex side were looking to push on this season, starting with Tuesday evening's visit of newly promoted Bovingdon. The Greens finished last season in fifth spot of the Spartan South Midlands table, but were granted promotion because on account of their ground status. They'd be taking their place in Step 6 for the first time and had already got off to a great start by beating Edgware & Kingsbury 3-0 at home on Saturday, thanks to a hat-trick from captain Ben Baldwin.

​Staines started the game strongly and were very quick to push their opponents back into the own half. However, they couldn't find a way through the visitor's defence and, four minutes in, found themselves a goal behind. Follwoing a freekick in midfield, Adam Baldwin slid a pass in behind the home defence, perfectly into the stride of Kadeem Gutzmore, who calmly slotted the ball past Conaill Ryan. 0-1
The home side barely had time to draw breath before they were hit by another sucker punch after a challenge near the halfway line saw a ricochet fall into the path of Ben Baldwin, with a clear run on goal. The Bovvy captain drove into the edge of the penalty area before striking the ball across the face of goal into the opposite bottom corner. 0-2
For the second game running, Bovingdon found themselves two goal to the good very early in the game. It may be that they decided to sit back a little (although it seemed a bit early for that) or it may be that Staines forced them back. Whatever the case, from the moment Staines went two down, they began to take control of the game in terms of possession.
That said, even though Bovingdon rarely threatened again throughout the first half, Staines couldn't muster too many clear cut chances. Saaim Rafi struck a tame 19th minute freekick wide of Leo Smith's right-hand post and, seven minutes later, Kayden Brimah's deflected shot looped harmlessly into Smith's arms. Ryan Delaney-Prince tried to inject some verve into the attack just past the half-hour but, after a bursting overlapping run, his cross was way too close to Smith, allowing the Bovingdon keeper to claim it easily.
In fact, Smith didn't have to get his knees dirty until the closing minutes of the half when he had throw himself to his left to push away Seanpierre Ortiz's stinging drive.

HT Staines & Lammas 0 Bovingdon 2. Two early goals for Bovingdon put them in charge. Staines responded with a lot of possession, but only managed to stretch the keeper once, in the closing minutes. The next goal could be crucial in this game.

​Despite being two down, it still felt like a goal back could change the entire game for the home side, and they were out of the blocks quickly. Almost immediately, Ryan Delaney-Price hit a dipping, long-range effort that was comfortably dealt with by Leo Smith. However, it was the visitors who came closest to grabbing the third goal. Following a 53rd minute left-wing corner, there was an almighty scramble in side the 6-yard box. Eventually the referee gave a freekick to the home side, but only after a couple of efforts had been blocked on the line. Then, almost immediately afterwards Bovingdon won the ball back and fed Ben Baldwin, who cut inside his marker before sending a shot glancing off the outside of Ryan's right-hand post.
That scare aside, the game fell back into a similar pattern as the majority of the first half. Staines dominating possession, but not really stretching the Bovingdon defence too much.
The Blue Swans did manufacturer a good opportunity on the hour, but Rhys Rabess, with a clear sight of goal, pulled his shot narrowly wide of the post with Smith beaten. However, the Bovingdon keeper was certainly not beaten on 76 minutes, pulling off a superb one-handed diving save to his left and pushing Tawfiq Begzad's drive away to safety.
With time running out, Staines pushed forward more. Sam Sillah saw his effort take a nasty hop in front of Smith, only for the keeper to react well, blocking with his chest before managing to smother the loose ball.
There was a glimmer of hope for Staines in the 87th minute when Bovingdon's James Hutchins picked up a second yellow card, leaving the visitors down to 10 for the remaining few minutes. However, there was little time for them to take advantage of the extra man and, in fact, it was the Green Army's Dan Hughes who had the last effort when he fired just wide in the final minute of normal time.

FT Staines & Lammas 0 Bovingdon 2. A game that highlighted the fact that possession counts for little if you don't create and score from it. Bovingdon took their early two-goal lead and defended it well, despite being pushed back for much of the game. Staines huffed and puffed but just couldn't find that final killer pass or clinical finish. They were never out of the game and it still felt like a goal back, even after the late red card, could possibly have changed the game.
It's been a great start to life in Step 6 for Bovingdon. Two games played, six points, five scored and none conceded. On Saturday they face a tough test as they travel to Woodley United, who lost out in the play-offs last season. Staines, meanwhile, make the trip to Burnham to face another newly promoted side, Maidenhead Town, who beat Westside 3-1 in their opener.

Staines & Lammas: 1.Ryan, 19.Denton, 6.McBride, 5.Stewart, 3.Brimah, 8.Cooper(c), 7.Rafi, 4.Delaney-Price, 11.Belahcene, 21.Healey, 10.Ortiz. Subs: 15.Sillah, 17.Rabess, 18.Bitmead, 22.Begzad, 20.Francis
Bovingdon: 1.Smith, 2.Loakes, 3.Coxall, 4.Clarke, 5.J.Hutchins, 6.Barkers-Obua, 7.Gutzmore, 8.Sayell, 9.B.Baldwin(c), 10.A.Baldwin, 11.Patterson. Subs: 12.Goodwin, 14.Hughes, 15.Burge, 16.Bullock, 17.S.Hutchins

​The Ground
Staines & Lammas are currently starting their second season as tenants to Spelthorne Sports FC, playing their home games at Spelthorne Sports Ground, a multi-sport complex just off the A308 between Ashford Common and Sunbury-on-Thames. The sports ground comprises of a central club house and car park with a cricket square on one side and the football pitches on the other. The main pitch runs parallel to the A308 and is a short walk from the car park. There's plenty of covered standing and seating on the A308 side of the ground as well as a covered stand behind the car park end goal. Dugouts are on the far side of the pitch. Access to the ground is via a single turnstile adjacent to the main block, which houses the changing areas and a snack bar. There's also a small hut which doubles as the programme shop and the half-time hospitality suite. There's no slope on the pitch which, considering the recent dry weather, looked to be in reasonable shape, even green in some pace.

The Programme 
At 20 pages, with a glossy cover, there's plenty of content in the Staines & Lammas programme, although at £2 it's at the pricier end of the range. The outer cover is pre-printed and they must have many left over from last season, judging by the manual year correction. Inside there's the usual articles you expect. A club history and timeline, upcoming fixtures, manager's notes and opponents biog. However, there was also a very interesting page dedicated to all of the clubs in the Staines area, the Staines Football Family as well as a double-page tribute to a Staines great, Dickie Watmore, who sadly passed away earlier this month, at the age of 91.

Ground Number: 489
Att: 69
Entrance: £9.00
Programme: £2.00

​Saturday evening presented another chance to take in a Henry Hawtin group game. This time it was Group B and the clash between 2024/25 winners Heyford Athletic and Spartan Rangers. Another Witney and District Premier versus Division One match up. Both teams finished towards the bottom of their respective leagues last season, although Heyford's eighth place was only seven points shy of third place East Hendred in a very tightly packed Premier table. Rangers also finished in eighth spot but were further behind the pack above them, twelve points off Milton in third. Consequently, Heyford came into the game as favourites.

It only took four minutes for Heyford to turn that pre-match optimism into reality. Having conceded a free-kick out on their left, Spartan then gave Steve Roberts a yard of space as the cross came over. The number 4 made no mistake, guiding a volley past Leo Adderley. 1-0.
Heyford continued to pressure Rangers and, 10 minutes in, Zach Willis burst clear on the left before shaping an effort towards the opposite top corner, only missing by a few feet.
Spartan's first effort came in the 16th minute when last season's top-scorer, Charlie Hibberd, got a strike off that didn't trouble Jack Membury in the Athletic goal. That sparked Heyford back into action and, two minutes later, they doubled their lead. Harry Hadley did well up the left before sending the ball across the face of goal for Kris Varghese to apply the final touch at the far post. 2-0.
Heyford were coasting as we broke for the first hydration break. However, as we have seen at the World Cup, the break in play can alter a team's rhythm and, be it the break or the fact they were two up, Heyford eased off a little. Rangers, even with the additional possession they were now afforded, were not able to apply too much pressure to the Heyford defence. Ricardo Rodrigues did get a volley on target just past the half-hour mark but, once again, it was a straight-forward stop for Membury.
With there minutes remaining in the half, Spartan won their first corner of the game, but they came to nothing. They did, however, save their best effort for the last action of the half. Josh Williams striking a lovely dipping drive from outside the box, forcing Membury to push the ball over the bar.

HT Heyford Athletic 2 Spartan Rangers 0. Heyford were very comfortable at 2-0 but eased off the gas a little at that point. Rangers, however, were unable to generate any serious chances until the last minute effort from Williams.

​Inside the first minute of the second half Heyford substitute George Stimson could and should have made the game safe. Unmarked in the box, Stimson managed to plant his header wide of the post leaving the striker with his head in his hands.
Undeterred, Heyford continued to apply pressure to their opponents and began to string together some lovely passing moves. One such delightful passage of play culminated in Mike Philpott finding his shot matched by Adderley. Then, just past the hour, Adderley was called into action twice in a matter of seconds, pushing away a dangerous looking cross, then reacting well to parry the follow-up. He was then indebted to his defence as they managed to get  in a last ditch block to prevent Will Roberts from increasing the lead.
With fifteen minutes of normal time remaining, Heyford did finally put the result beyond any doubt. It was another excellent passing move that set up the goal, but this time the finish matched the approach as Will Roberts slotted home. 3-0
Stimson, after missing earlier, then got a strike on target but found Adderley to be a barrier too far. Then, with a few minutes of normal time remaining, Heyford got in a complete muddle at the back, almost gifting Rangers a late consolation. However, despite having too close-range bites at the cherry, Spartan couldn't get the ball over the line, summing up their evening.

FT Heyford Athletic 3 Spartan Rangers 0. All in all, a comfortable evening for The Bears. Rangers huffed and puffed, but never really laid a glove on Athletic. Next up for Heyford is an 18:15 kick-off next Friday as they take on Milton-under-Wychwood. The following day, Spartan Rangers take on Longford park at 17:00.

Heyford Athletic: 1.Membury, 6.S.Roberts, 7.W.Roberts, 4.Badland, 8.Philpott, 16.Guinan, 5.Bonito, 2.Hadley, 12.Moore, 10.Varghese, 9.Willis, 14.Matthews, 3.Stimson, 13.Ingram, Dawe, Fathers
Spartan Rangers: 1.Adderley, 3.Woolery, 15.Bailey, 16.Clarke, 12. Mocliuc, 7.Rodrigues, 14.Froggatt, 11.Hibberd, 6.Foley, 10.A.Smith, 8.Williams, 13.V.Smith, 9.McDonough, 5.Adegoke

It's fair to say that I'm not a massive fan of the Americanisation of football and, whilst the standard of the matches has been generally high, the overall World Cup shenanigans has left me cold. So, it was something of a relief to get back to some proper grassroots football this Friday evening. It was not the best conditions for a match, 33 degrees and a bone-hard pitch, but it was still great to be back outside watching a game.
The Henry Hawtin Memorial Trophy is played annually and gives grassroots teams, in and around the Witney area the opportunity to play a full tournament as part of their pre-season preparations.
This season's tournament, which you can follow on the BotP website - https://www.botp.co.uk/henry-hawtin.html - once again features two groups of five teams. Group B consists of Heyford Athletic, Longford Park, Milton-u-Wychwood, Spartan Rangers and last season's champions, Stonesfield. Group A features this evening's teams, Ducklington and Chadlington, with Deddington Town, Witney Royals and last season's beaten finalists, Charlbury Town.
Tonight's game pitched Witney and District Division 1 side, Ducklington, with Premier Division outfit, Chadlington. They met in the group stage last season with Chadlington coming out on top by two goals to nil.
Many thanks to referee Roger Huxford for sharing the team sheets with me. As always, very much appreciated.

​Thankfully the game got under way without the countdown from 10 that the American audience seems to require. We would, however, be having a hydration break in each half. With temperatures still up around 30 degrees, it was a necessity. There's no roof and air-con at Enstone Sports.

The Premier League team started well and caused Ducklington problems as early as the third minute, when Brinley Mayne's effort was pushed up and against the crossbar by goalkeeper Finn Ball, before being scrambled away for a corner. The initial ball in then foot of the near post, rebounding straight back to the corner taker. The second delivery, however, was much better, into the heart of the box where Kyle Grimmett rose to glance a header to the corner of the net. 0-1.
In front early on, Chadlington looked to grab a second and, with just six minutes on the clock, Isaac Harrington tested Ball again, but this time the goalkeeper was equal to the effort. Ducklington responded in kind and, recovering from the early setback, began to make progress into the Chadlington half. Their first real opportunity fell to Charlie Woodrow, who was given some space on the left but couldn't keep his shot down. They did, however, cause Josh Betts an anxious moment a few minutes later, the Chad keeper scrambling and happy to see an effort go narrowly over.
With 18 minutes played, Ducklington did get themselves level, and it was a thing of some beauty. Ethan Luckett spotted the run of Barnaby Hodgetts and sent a searching 50-yard pass over the Chadlington back-line. Hodgetts ran onto the ball, controlling perfectly with his first touch, taking the ball wide of the on-rushing Betts before slipping the ball into the empty net. 1-1
Shortly after the goal we had the first hydration break of the evening. When the game continued, it was Ducklington who created the next big chance when Harry Hunt went on a run down the right, driving to the byline and cutting back for Charlie Nelson, who saw his effort deflected wide for a corner. When this was delivered, from the Ducklington left, Harry Hatcher saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line by Charlie King.
That chance turned out to be the last that Ducklington manufactured in the first half. In fact, both sides struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities. Chadlington did come close in the final 5 minutes when Grimmetts' header was spilled by Ball, fumbled against the post and eventually hacked clear amidst claims that the ball crossed the line. These were quickly waved away by the referee.

HT Ducklington 1 Chadlington 1. A good half of football played in very testing conditions. Both sides created chances. Chadlington probably edged it in terms of possession, but Ducklington's more direct style was clearly a threat too.

​Much as in the first half, it was the Premier League team who looked stronger after the restart. In fact, they went back in front only a minute into the second period. Kyle Grimmett, on the left hand corner of the penalty area, found that he had no-one to aim for in the box so decided to take on the shot. It looked almost impossible to score from the angle he had, but somehow he managed to shape the ball around Ball into the far, bottom corner. Great strike. 1-2.
Nine minutes into the second half Chadlington stamped their authority on the game, and it was more good work from Grimmett that caused the problem for Ducklington. The blue's number two did well down the left before cutting back for Oliver Abbott. Ball did brilliantly to keep the point-blank effort out with a stretched leg. However, Chadlington kept the pressure on and, when the ball fell to Alfie Peachey on the edge of the box, Ball could do nothing to keep out his low drive. 1-3
That goal gave Peachey a taste for the action and, only a minute later, he sent in another superb, dipping shot that Ball, this time, was equal to, expertly tipping the ball over. That, however, was as close as Chadlington were to come to a fourth goal. Unsurprisingly, given the heat, the Blues took their foot off the gas a little and concentrated more on closing out the game.
Ducklington, to their credit, did keep pushing with Charlie Woodrow, in particular, keeping the Chadlington defensive line honest. Just past the hour the Ducks number 9 dragged a shot wide then, a few minutes later, kept Betts on his toes with a strike on target that the stopper was equal to. As time began to run out on Ducklington, post the second drinks break, Woodrow was again their main threat, breaking through on the left but finding Betts a strong barrier, blocking the shot with his legs this time. There was one more opportunity for Woodrow, after some fancy footwork opened up another shooting opportunity, only for the finish not to live up to the approach work.
With two minutes remaining, Ryan Sheppard had another chance for the yellows, but lifted his shot over and, with that, any final chance to get back into the game was gone.

FT Ducklington 1 Chadlington 3. A thoroughly entertaining game of football. Credit to both teams for producing such a good opening to the tournament on a bump, hard pitch in stifling heat. Both teams showed that they are capable of causing problems offensively, but the clinical finishing of Kyle Grimmett proved to be the big difference between the sides.
Next up for Chadlington is last season's runners-up Charlbury Town next Friday. The following day Ducklington take on Witney Royals.


Ducklington: 1.Ball, 7.Halcrow, 16.James, 6.Hickman, 15.Luckett, 11.Winder, 12.Hodgetts, 10.Woodrow, 18.McIntosh, 9.Nelson, 15.Watson, 5.Sheppard, 8.Butler, 17.Hatcher, 2.Hunt
Chadlington: Betts, 12.Cozier, 14.S.Harrington, 8.Wheatley, 15.King, 4.I.Harrington, 10.Bennett, 11.Mayne, 2.Grimmett, 16.Donaghy, 9.Peachey, 17.Foster, 7.Abbott, Ingram, Soanes, 6.Massey