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.
Early Heyford pressure 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.
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.
A Spartan raid 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
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
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