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.
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.
Ducklington attack from a corner 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.
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.
Chadlington go close 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
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
Early pressure from Chadlington
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