This Saturday, after running the line for my daughter's team in the morning, I dashed back up the A34, grabbed a quick bite, then headed off to deepest, darkest Bedfordshire, on safari to Woburn. My chosen game for the afternoon was a North Bucks Intermediate Division clash between second placed Woburn & Wavendon and fourth placed Deanshanger Athletic. Three points separated the sides at kick-off, although Athletic had played a game more than their hosts. Woburn were coming into the game defending a 100% record, played four, won four. Athletic had won three of their five outings. Last season honours had been even in the league meeting at Deanshanger, but 'Shanger' had won 3-1 in this fixture with two goals from Rhys Bonsell and one from Ben Stevenson. They had also met in the Challenge trophy Final at Buckingham FC. Woburn were victorious on that occasion, sealing a 2-0 win with a brace from Chris Cutler.
Many thanks to referee Krzysztof Ziejewski for sharing the team sheets before kick-off. This makes life a lot easier for me.
Many thanks to referee Krzysztof Ziejewski for sharing the team sheets before kick-off. This makes life a lot easier for me.
With thunder bouncing off the Greensand Ridge but the rain, thankfully, bypassing Woburn for now, the game kicked off just a minute or two behind schedule, and it was the home side who showed first. Two minutes into the game a long thro from the left found Charley Cain rising at the near post to powerfully head just narrowly wide. An early sign that Woburn could be dangerous from set pieces anywhere inside the Deanshanger half. The Lions continued to push Athletic back in the opening minutes. A sixth minute free-kick lifted into the heart of the Athletic box found goalkeeper Sam Watts clutching at thin air but, when the ball fell into a crowd of players, the visitors somehow scrambled it clear.
Deanshanger took until just after the 10 minute mark to launch their first major foray into the home side's territory. Thomas Dunning cleverly lifting a pass over the defence into the path of Rhys Bonsell. However, home keeper Alfie Woodgate was quick to see the danger, rushing off his line and getting to the ball before the striker.
That was a brief respite for Athletic but pretty soon Woburn had them pinned back again. Home captain Ross Mancini found the ball at his feet towards the left-hand corner of the penalty area before striking curling effort aimed at the far post. The shot had Watts and, unluckily for Mancini, the far post, beaten. A few minutes later Charley Cain sent a 22 yard free-kick narrowly over the bar as the home side pressed to capitalise on their possessional advantage.
The visitors were not offering too much in terms of attacking but were occasionally keeping the home defence honest, such as in the 17th minute when Bonsell turned provider, feeding Dan McLaren. Once again Woodgate was quick to react and make the save and launch a Woburn attack. The home team broke quickly down the right before the ball was fed across the box to the waiting Chris Cutler. His strike had power but not quite enough accuracy as he rattled the crossbar from inside the box.
We were still less than halfway through the first period when Woburn and Cutler had another clear cut chance. The strike burst clear of the defence but, as he tried to round the goalkeeper, seemed to get in a muddle with Cain, and the chance was gone.
The game continued in the same vain for the next 15 minutes or so. Woburn dominating possession but not being able to find a way through to goal. Then, with 8 minutes to go until the break, they were almost caught on the hop when the visitors launched what was becoming an increasingly rare attack. Zach Stallard put in a good low cross but McLaren failed to find sufficient purchase leaving Woodgate with a comfortable save.
Five minutes later The Lions finally made their possession pay off. It was a simple yet very effective move that created the goal. Matty Carr fed the ball down the right flank to Nick Mentiply. His low, driven cross was then converted by Charley Cain at the far post. 1-0
With just three minutes to go until the break, it left little time for the home team to put their foot on the gas and drive home their advantage. They did, however, have the last say of the half when Mentiply's stinging drive from 25 yards crashed against the foot of the post before going to safety.
HT Woburn & Wavendon 1 Deanshanger Athletic 0. A dominant but largely unproductive display from Woburn. They'll feel that they probably should have a bigger lead than the single goal. Deanshanger have offered little going forward but, in central defender and captain, Jack Harris, have a player capable of marshalling a solid back line.
At half-time in was speaking to a local supporter and father of one of the players. He mentioned to his son that they needed more goals. They were well on top, but were always in danger whilst only a goal up. How right he was proven to be.
Deanshanger took until just after the 10 minute mark to launch their first major foray into the home side's territory. Thomas Dunning cleverly lifting a pass over the defence into the path of Rhys Bonsell. However, home keeper Alfie Woodgate was quick to see the danger, rushing off his line and getting to the ball before the striker.
That was a brief respite for Athletic but pretty soon Woburn had them pinned back again. Home captain Ross Mancini found the ball at his feet towards the left-hand corner of the penalty area before striking curling effort aimed at the far post. The shot had Watts and, unluckily for Mancini, the far post, beaten. A few minutes later Charley Cain sent a 22 yard free-kick narrowly over the bar as the home side pressed to capitalise on their possessional advantage.
The visitors were not offering too much in terms of attacking but were occasionally keeping the home defence honest, such as in the 17th minute when Bonsell turned provider, feeding Dan McLaren. Once again Woodgate was quick to react and make the save and launch a Woburn attack. The home team broke quickly down the right before the ball was fed across the box to the waiting Chris Cutler. His strike had power but not quite enough accuracy as he rattled the crossbar from inside the box.
We were still less than halfway through the first period when Woburn and Cutler had another clear cut chance. The strike burst clear of the defence but, as he tried to round the goalkeeper, seemed to get in a muddle with Cain, and the chance was gone.
The game continued in the same vain for the next 15 minutes or so. Woburn dominating possession but not being able to find a way through to goal. Then, with 8 minutes to go until the break, they were almost caught on the hop when the visitors launched what was becoming an increasingly rare attack. Zach Stallard put in a good low cross but McLaren failed to find sufficient purchase leaving Woodgate with a comfortable save.
Five minutes later The Lions finally made their possession pay off. It was a simple yet very effective move that created the goal. Matty Carr fed the ball down the right flank to Nick Mentiply. His low, driven cross was then converted by Charley Cain at the far post. 1-0
With just three minutes to go until the break, it left little time for the home team to put their foot on the gas and drive home their advantage. They did, however, have the last say of the half when Mentiply's stinging drive from 25 yards crashed against the foot of the post before going to safety.
HT Woburn & Wavendon 1 Deanshanger Athletic 0. A dominant but largely unproductive display from Woburn. They'll feel that they probably should have a bigger lead than the single goal. Deanshanger have offered little going forward but, in central defender and captain, Jack Harris, have a player capable of marshalling a solid back line.
At half-time in was speaking to a local supporter and father of one of the players. He mentioned to his son that they needed more goals. They were well on top, but were always in danger whilst only a goal up. How right he was proven to be.
As early as the third minute of the second half, Woburn were almost undone by a long ball again. Woodgate was alert again but this time failed to clear the ball. It fell to Dan McLaren on the edge of the box but, on the half-turn and under pressure from a defence, the striker couldn't find the target. It as another warning for The Lions.
Woburn then came close themselves when a nice passing move culminated in the ball being slipped to Matty Carr on the left-hand corner of the penalty area. He looked up and tried to curl the ball into the top opposite corner, missing by just a whisker. A very good effort. A few minutes later, Carr latched onto a lose ball in the centre and drove for goal again, this time putting his effort high and wide. On the hour Rhys Bonsell sent in a fizzing strike for Athletic, held well by Woodgate, only for Woburn to hit straight back with another simple passing move similar to the one that earned them the lead. this time Carr was sent free on the left and, using his pace, he drove in toward the goal, firing low to the front post only for Watts to make a good stop with his feet. From the resulting corner the two captains had a bit of a duel. Mancini met the corner with a good header that looked destined for the top corner until Jack Harris popped up from nowhere to head the ball over the top.
On 66 minutes Woburn had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed and it couldn't have fallen to a player with a better name. Substitute Patrick Clyvert (I know it's a different spelling) was sent clean through but failed to emulate his namesake, allowing Watts to make a good block with his feet. The ball fell into the path of Mentiply but he lifted his effort over the top. A double let off for Deanshanger.
Having said that, the visitors, although still only one behind, were not showing a lot of signs that they were getting back into the game. Then, with 8 minutes to go, a moment of controversy when visitor's captain, Jack Harris, who had not put a foot wrong all game, clashed off the ball with Jake Seeley, leaving the home player in a heap. At least one home supporter thought it was a head butt. To me it just looked to be a bit of a barge as he ran past. Either way, already on a yellow, it probably should at least have been a second one. The referee, who was rightly following the game, had no chance of witnessing the incident and had to confer with his linesman, who just happened to be from Deanshanger. Of course, and I aim no blame on the linesman here at all, even if he did see what happened clearly, he's not going to say too much to the referee. I know from experience that referee's explicitly tell linos to flag offsides and foul throws but to leave fouls etc to them. Also, it is very possible that the lino didn't see exactly what happened if he was also following the game. So, the referee chose to let Harris off with a warning. In my opinion, exactly the correct decision. He obviously didn't see the incident and, therefore, could not issue a card.
Of course, that was probably not what the home team wanted to see and, deep into added time, they must have felt doubly aggrieved when Deanshanger snatched a very, very unlikely equaliser. The goal owed a lot to the tenacity of winger Dan Forbie who chased a ball that he had no right to get to. Matty Carr got to it first, almost on his own goal line. However, Forbie muscled him off it before sending across a low ball that found Dan McLaren lurking at the far post to smash the ball past Woodgate. 1-1.
FT Woburn & Wavendon 1 Deanshanger Athletic 1. The only person that saw this coming was the home supporter I spoke to at half-time. I do hope he purchased a lottery ticket too. Deanshanger were never really in this game but, to be fair, they hung in there, keeping it at one goal which always gave them that slight opportunity. When it did come, they took it. Woburn must be kicking themselves that they lost their 100% record. However, they can console themselves with the fact that the point took them top of the table, albeit having played a game more than Olney in second. Athletic move up to third.
Next weekend Woburn & Wavendon are back at The Village Hall as they take on Milton Keynes Athletic in the Interdivisional Challenge Trophy. Meanwhile, Deanshanger are on the road again, travelling to MK Wanderers in a league game.
Woburn & Wavendon: 1. Alfie Woodgate, 5.Jack Page, 6.Ross Mancini(c), 9.Chris Cutler, 10.Matty Carr, 15.Lewis Milne, 16.Charley Cain, 22.Ned Stevens, 24.Ali Milne, 25.Jake Seeley, 32.Nick Mentiply. Subs: 7.Josh Long, 8.Chris Bukaya, 11.Patrick Clyvert, 12.Jack Forber, 28.Joe Bradstock
Deanshanger Athletic: 1.Sam Watts, 2.Will Grose, 15.Aiden Ennis, 4.Tom Dunning, 5.Jack Harris(c), 16.Adam Kissane, 7.Zach Stallard, 8.Scott Moore, 9.Dan McClaren, 10.Rhys Bonsell, 11.Dan Forbie. Subs: 12.Josh Fisher, 3.Taylor Brown, 6.Ben Stevenson
Woburn then came close themselves when a nice passing move culminated in the ball being slipped to Matty Carr on the left-hand corner of the penalty area. He looked up and tried to curl the ball into the top opposite corner, missing by just a whisker. A very good effort. A few minutes later, Carr latched onto a lose ball in the centre and drove for goal again, this time putting his effort high and wide. On the hour Rhys Bonsell sent in a fizzing strike for Athletic, held well by Woodgate, only for Woburn to hit straight back with another simple passing move similar to the one that earned them the lead. this time Carr was sent free on the left and, using his pace, he drove in toward the goal, firing low to the front post only for Watts to make a good stop with his feet. From the resulting corner the two captains had a bit of a duel. Mancini met the corner with a good header that looked destined for the top corner until Jack Harris popped up from nowhere to head the ball over the top.
On 66 minutes Woburn had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed and it couldn't have fallen to a player with a better name. Substitute Patrick Clyvert (I know it's a different spelling) was sent clean through but failed to emulate his namesake, allowing Watts to make a good block with his feet. The ball fell into the path of Mentiply but he lifted his effort over the top. A double let off for Deanshanger.
Having said that, the visitors, although still only one behind, were not showing a lot of signs that they were getting back into the game. Then, with 8 minutes to go, a moment of controversy when visitor's captain, Jack Harris, who had not put a foot wrong all game, clashed off the ball with Jake Seeley, leaving the home player in a heap. At least one home supporter thought it was a head butt. To me it just looked to be a bit of a barge as he ran past. Either way, already on a yellow, it probably should at least have been a second one. The referee, who was rightly following the game, had no chance of witnessing the incident and had to confer with his linesman, who just happened to be from Deanshanger. Of course, and I aim no blame on the linesman here at all, even if he did see what happened clearly, he's not going to say too much to the referee. I know from experience that referee's explicitly tell linos to flag offsides and foul throws but to leave fouls etc to them. Also, it is very possible that the lino didn't see exactly what happened if he was also following the game. So, the referee chose to let Harris off with a warning. In my opinion, exactly the correct decision. He obviously didn't see the incident and, therefore, could not issue a card.
Of course, that was probably not what the home team wanted to see and, deep into added time, they must have felt doubly aggrieved when Deanshanger snatched a very, very unlikely equaliser. The goal owed a lot to the tenacity of winger Dan Forbie who chased a ball that he had no right to get to. Matty Carr got to it first, almost on his own goal line. However, Forbie muscled him off it before sending across a low ball that found Dan McLaren lurking at the far post to smash the ball past Woodgate. 1-1.
FT Woburn & Wavendon 1 Deanshanger Athletic 1. The only person that saw this coming was the home supporter I spoke to at half-time. I do hope he purchased a lottery ticket too. Deanshanger were never really in this game but, to be fair, they hung in there, keeping it at one goal which always gave them that slight opportunity. When it did come, they took it. Woburn must be kicking themselves that they lost their 100% record. However, they can console themselves with the fact that the point took them top of the table, albeit having played a game more than Olney in second. Athletic move up to third.
Next weekend Woburn & Wavendon are back at The Village Hall as they take on Milton Keynes Athletic in the Interdivisional Challenge Trophy. Meanwhile, Deanshanger are on the road again, travelling to MK Wanderers in a league game.
Woburn & Wavendon: 1. Alfie Woodgate, 5.Jack Page, 6.Ross Mancini(c), 9.Chris Cutler, 10.Matty Carr, 15.Lewis Milne, 16.Charley Cain, 22.Ned Stevens, 24.Ali Milne, 25.Jake Seeley, 32.Nick Mentiply. Subs: 7.Josh Long, 8.Chris Bukaya, 11.Patrick Clyvert, 12.Jack Forber, 28.Joe Bradstock
Deanshanger Athletic: 1.Sam Watts, 2.Will Grose, 15.Aiden Ennis, 4.Tom Dunning, 5.Jack Harris(c), 16.Adam Kissane, 7.Zach Stallard, 8.Scott Moore, 9.Dan McClaren, 10.Rhys Bonsell, 11.Dan Forbie. Subs: 12.Josh Fisher, 3.Taylor Brown, 6.Ben Stevenson
Grassroots view of grassroots footbal
The Ground
Woburn & Wavendon is a large club that provides football across all age groups, for boys and girls, from 5 through to adult. Consequently, they have a number of pitch locations around the area. The adult men's team, however, play their games at Woburn Village Hall Playing Fields, just to the North of the village centre and no more than a giraffe's neck from Woburn Safari Park. There's a large car park at the village hall and facilities within the building. The pitches are behind the hall, five in total, four of which are small sided. Pitch 4, the furthest from the hall is the main 11-a-side pitch. This is, of course, a community facility and has no spectator cover. The playing surface looked to be in good condition with no real slope or undulation.
Ground Number: 419
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Woburn & Wavendon is a large club that provides football across all age groups, for boys and girls, from 5 through to adult. Consequently, they have a number of pitch locations around the area. The adult men's team, however, play their games at Woburn Village Hall Playing Fields, just to the North of the village centre and no more than a giraffe's neck from Woburn Safari Park. There's a large car park at the village hall and facilities within the building. The pitches are behind the hall, five in total, four of which are small sided. Pitch 4, the furthest from the hall is the main 11-a-side pitch. This is, of course, a community facility and has no spectator cover. The playing surface looked to be in good condition with no real slope or undulation.
Ground Number: 419
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Woburn Village Hall
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