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.
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.
Sansom saves Crozier's freekick 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.
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.
Gregor Smith (17) levels the scores 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
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
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