The last two winners of this trophy went head to head on Friday evening to decide the outcome of Group B. Both sides had already qualified for the semi-finals, but who would take top spot and who would come second? With Deddington Town and Charlbury Town already awaiting them, both teams also already knew their potential opponents. Heyford took a three point and six goal lead into the final game, meaning that Stonesfield needed at least a 3 goal winning margin to take top spot.
With both teams fielding much changed sides and with the possibility that they may meet in the final, neither wanted to give to much away. Consequently, this was never going to be a classic even if it wasn't baking hot again.
Thanks to referee Dave Evans for access to the team sheets prior to kick-off.
Stonesfield started brightly, kicking up the slope in the first half. Only two minutes had passed when Joey Johnson made a burst up the right before sending over a cross that was only inches from being perfect for Jack Simpson.
Heyford's response was to earn a corner that was headed wide by Ryan Booth The same player was the next to get a sight of goal, sending in a tame effort that was very comfortable for Mike Phipps.
There was something of an edge to the game that appeared to come from a few comments made between the teams prior to kick-off. This gave rise to a couple of over-zealous challenges that the referee was quick to stamp out.
That left us goalless at the first hydration break, with neither team offering too much in terms of clear cut chances.
Not too long after the restart, Ben Dawe produced a delightful cross from the left, finding the head of Connor Duggan inside the box. Unfortunately for the Bears, the number 9 planted his header wide of the target. That was on the half-hour mark and, although the niggles appeared to have calmed down, there were still very few goalmouth incidents to speak of, until the final couple of minutes of the half.
Stonesfield's Ollie Wellstood sent a volley well wide of the mark before, almost immediately , at the other end, Duggan was on the end of another good cross, sending his first-time volley just over the bar. Duggan then sent a shot wide again, when he probably should have tested Phipps. However, the closest anyone came to a goal was in added time when Stonesfield came within inches of breaking the deadlock. Johnson was played in by a lovely through ball from Ferdy Laughton-Hill. The striker got the merest of touches to guide the ball past Jack Membury, only for the ball to roll just the wrong side of the post from a Stonesfield perspective.
HT Heyford Athletic 0 Stonesfield 0. A game short of too much incident, played in very muggy conditions on a bone-hard surface.
With both teams fielding much changed sides and with the possibility that they may meet in the final, neither wanted to give to much away. Consequently, this was never going to be a classic even if it wasn't baking hot again.
Thanks to referee Dave Evans for access to the team sheets prior to kick-off.
Stonesfield started brightly, kicking up the slope in the first half. Only two minutes had passed when Joey Johnson made a burst up the right before sending over a cross that was only inches from being perfect for Jack Simpson.
Heyford's response was to earn a corner that was headed wide by Ryan Booth The same player was the next to get a sight of goal, sending in a tame effort that was very comfortable for Mike Phipps.
There was something of an edge to the game that appeared to come from a few comments made between the teams prior to kick-off. This gave rise to a couple of over-zealous challenges that the referee was quick to stamp out.
That left us goalless at the first hydration break, with neither team offering too much in terms of clear cut chances.
Not too long after the restart, Ben Dawe produced a delightful cross from the left, finding the head of Connor Duggan inside the box. Unfortunately for the Bears, the number 9 planted his header wide of the target. That was on the half-hour mark and, although the niggles appeared to have calmed down, there were still very few goalmouth incidents to speak of, until the final couple of minutes of the half.
Stonesfield's Ollie Wellstood sent a volley well wide of the mark before, almost immediately , at the other end, Duggan was on the end of another good cross, sending his first-time volley just over the bar. Duggan then sent a shot wide again, when he probably should have tested Phipps. However, the closest anyone came to a goal was in added time when Stonesfield came within inches of breaking the deadlock. Johnson was played in by a lovely through ball from Ferdy Laughton-Hill. The striker got the merest of touches to guide the ball past Jack Membury, only for the ball to roll just the wrong side of the post from a Stonesfield perspective.
HT Heyford Athletic 0 Stonesfield 0. A game short of too much incident, played in very muggy conditions on a bone-hard surface.
When the second half kicked off, Heyford's Ben Dawe looked to be on a mission to put the game to bed. Within a minute the number 13 turned an d fired at goal, drawing a comfortable stop from Phipps. A minute later, Dawe danced cleared of a few defenders before pulling his shot wide of the goal. It was a much livelier start to the half, but the game soon settled back into the same sort of pattern as the first half.
Borja Gamboa dragged a shot wide for Heyford. Jack Membury gave Athletic supports a worrying moment a minute later, spilling the ball, but managing to recover and drop on it before an attacker could profit.
Still level at the second drinks break but, just past the hour mark, the breakthrough was finally made. The goal came for Heyford when Dylan Sparvell struck a shot from outside the box, but it took a big deflection to send the ball spinning past Phipps into the bottom corner. 1-0.
Stonesfield did try to respond, but now requiring four goals to take top spot, it was pretty much a done deal. In fact, they could have gone further behind in the 75th minute if Phipps had not done well to keep out Duggan. Seconds later, Duggan was in again, one on one with Phipps. He slid the ball past the keeper but saw it drift just wide of the far post too.
For Stonesfield, Jamie Langton sent a volley wide of Membury's right-hand upright before Joey Johnson was a little unlucky with a very difficult volleyed attempt, taking the ball first time as it came over his shoulder, only to see the ball sail over the bar. The last few minutes were interesting, when Stonesfield sent their keeper up for a corner. He stayed up field even after the kick was half-cleared. Stonesfield recycled it, but nothing came of it.
HT Heyford Athletic 1 Stonesfield 0. Hey ford take top spot in Group B, winning all four of their games. Stonesfield go through in second spot.
So the semi-final line-up is:
Tuesday - Deddington Town v Stonesfield
Wednesday - Heyford Athletic v Charlbury Town
Both games could be exceptionally close, with not too much to choose between any of the teams.
Heyford Athletic: 1.Membury, 7.Roberts, 16.Booth, 14.Matthews, 17.Sparvell, 8.Philpott, 6.Spagnij, 3.Gamboa, 5.Bonito, 13.Dawe, 9.Duggan. Subs: 11.Haynes, 23.Fletcher, 2.Cameron, 10.Wickens
Stonesfield: 1.Phipps, 8.Langton, 3.Hart, 4.Wynn, 11.Sale, 12.Allmond, 9.Wellstood, 17.Laughton-Hill, 10.Burden, 7.Simpson, 6.Johnson. Subs: 14.Franklin, 15.Green
Borja Gamboa dragged a shot wide for Heyford. Jack Membury gave Athletic supports a worrying moment a minute later, spilling the ball, but managing to recover and drop on it before an attacker could profit.
Still level at the second drinks break but, just past the hour mark, the breakthrough was finally made. The goal came for Heyford when Dylan Sparvell struck a shot from outside the box, but it took a big deflection to send the ball spinning past Phipps into the bottom corner. 1-0.
Stonesfield did try to respond, but now requiring four goals to take top spot, it was pretty much a done deal. In fact, they could have gone further behind in the 75th minute if Phipps had not done well to keep out Duggan. Seconds later, Duggan was in again, one on one with Phipps. He slid the ball past the keeper but saw it drift just wide of the far post too.
For Stonesfield, Jamie Langton sent a volley wide of Membury's right-hand upright before Joey Johnson was a little unlucky with a very difficult volleyed attempt, taking the ball first time as it came over his shoulder, only to see the ball sail over the bar. The last few minutes were interesting, when Stonesfield sent their keeper up for a corner. He stayed up field even after the kick was half-cleared. Stonesfield recycled it, but nothing came of it.
HT Heyford Athletic 1 Stonesfield 0. Hey ford take top spot in Group B, winning all four of their games. Stonesfield go through in second spot.
So the semi-final line-up is:
Tuesday - Deddington Town v Stonesfield
Wednesday - Heyford Athletic v Charlbury Town
Both games could be exceptionally close, with not too much to choose between any of the teams.
Heyford Athletic: 1.Membury, 7.Roberts, 16.Booth, 14.Matthews, 17.Sparvell, 8.Philpott, 6.Spagnij, 3.Gamboa, 5.Bonito, 13.Dawe, 9.Duggan. Subs: 11.Haynes, 23.Fletcher, 2.Cameron, 10.Wickens
Stonesfield: 1.Phipps, 8.Langton, 3.Hart, 4.Wynn, 11.Sale, 12.Allmond, 9.Wellstood, 17.Laughton-Hill, 10.Burden, 7.Simpson, 6.Johnson. Subs: 14.Franklin, 15.Green
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