After spending four hours travelling to and from a game on Sunday, I decided to keep things closer to home for my midweek match. Rather than a 210 mile round trip my total mileage on Tuesday was only just over 8 miles. The game in question; a Combined Counties Premier North local derby between Ardley United and Kidlington, teams separated by just over 10 miles. Prior to kick off Kidlington sat fifth in the table, in the play-off spots, with 18 points from 10 games played. Ardley were five places further down the table, with 11 points. However, the Sky Blues had only played 7 games. Despite their geographical proximity, the teams had not played in the same league for a decade, in the 2015-16 Hellenic Premier League campaign. Kidlington won the title that year, earning themselves a place in Step 4. They stayed at that level until relegation last season. Those last two league meetings both went in favour of The Greens, 5-1 at Yarnton Road and 3-0 in this fixture.
It was good to catch up with my former Chairman, from my coaching days, Ben Hillier, before the game. Ben did a huge amount for local football in Bicester and was instrumental in the growth of the youth game locally, especially championing girl's and disability football. I'm sure he'll do an equally good job at Ardley United.
It was good to catch up with my former Chairman, from my coaching days, Ben Hillier, before the game. Ben did a huge amount for local football in Bicester and was instrumental in the growth of the youth game locally, especially championing girl's and disability football. I'm sure he'll do an equally good job at Ardley United.
Declan Benjamin (far left) opens the scoring Although I've been to Ardley a number of times, it's been a little while and they have made at least one change since I last visited. The dugouts are now on the opposite side of the ground, the village hall side. There's also more spectator space on this side of the pitch now, so it was good to stand on that side and get a different perspective on the game.
The opening encounters of the game saw neither team cause their opposing goalkeeper any issues although Ardley, kicking up the slope, did slowly begin to look the more dangerous. Kidlington were struggling to find any kind of rhythm, much to the ire of their coaching staff.
Their mood would certainly not improved on 18 minutes when the home side took the lead. Sam McConnell's driving run up the right was illegally halted near the corner of the box. Declan Benjamin took control, sending a low drive into the near post that Charlie Barnett got to but could not keep out. 1-0
The expected response from Kidlington did not really happen and it was actually Ardley who went closest to scoring again when captain Elliot Barton headed narrowly over following a left-wing corner.
That was just before the half-hour. Four minutes later, the home side did increase their lead when Kidlington failed to clear their lines. Declan Benjamin latched onto the loose ball inside the box before guiding his strike low to Barnett's left. 2-0
HT Ardley United 2 Kidlington 0. A deserved lead for the hosts at the break. Kidlington have yet to get their game together.
The opening encounters of the game saw neither team cause their opposing goalkeeper any issues although Ardley, kicking up the slope, did slowly begin to look the more dangerous. Kidlington were struggling to find any kind of rhythm, much to the ire of their coaching staff.
Their mood would certainly not improved on 18 minutes when the home side took the lead. Sam McConnell's driving run up the right was illegally halted near the corner of the box. Declan Benjamin took control, sending a low drive into the near post that Charlie Barnett got to but could not keep out. 1-0
The expected response from Kidlington did not really happen and it was actually Ardley who went closest to scoring again when captain Elliot Barton headed narrowly over following a left-wing corner.
That was just before the half-hour. Four minutes later, the home side did increase their lead when Kidlington failed to clear their lines. Declan Benjamin latched onto the loose ball inside the box before guiding his strike low to Barnett's left. 2-0
HT Ardley United 2 Kidlington 0. A deserved lead for the hosts at the break. Kidlington have yet to get their game together.
Ardley look for more goals Although there was little response to initially going behind, Kidlington did come out of the blocks quickly in the second half. Within a minute of the restart Ned Nicholson set off on a powerful break down the right before slipping the ball in to Adam Smith, inside the penalty area, who slotted the ball confidently past Seth Wicks. 2-1
Game on, or so you would think. However, Ardley didn't panic and were the next to create a chance. James Watts smashing a low drive in from 25 yards that Barnett did well to get to and push away. Three minutes later, the same player fired in another low effort that required even more acrobatics form Barnet, this time at the expense of a corner.
Ardley continued to create the better chances and the lively Benjamin came within inches of claiming a hat-trick when he latched onto a loose ball some 10 yards out. However, a last ditch lunge from a Kidlington defender sent the ball spinning wide for a corner.
Barnett was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers. With fifteen minutes left he was out quickly and bravely to block at the feet of Alfie Dunn, then two minutes later he had to be brave again, diving at the feet of substitute George Cowmeadow, who stayed down after falling awkwardly. However, after a little treatment to his shoulder, he was able to continue. In the final 5-10 minutes Kidlington did step up their pace a little in an attempt to get back into the game, but they never really stretched Wicks.
FT Ardley United 2 Kidlington 1. The result sees Ardley move up one place and Kidlington remain in fifth place However, United are now just four points adrift of the Greens with three games in hand.
Up next for the Sky Blues is a home league game with mid-table Harefield United on Saturday. At the same time, Kidlington welcome another mid-table side, Holyport, to Yarnton Road.
Oh, and for anyone old enough to remember, the blog title is a play on the old Double Diamond advert.
Ardley United: 1.Wicks, 2.Gabbidon, 3.Taylor, 4.McConnell, 5.Barton(c), 6.Bailey, 7.Ngathe, 8.Watts, 9.Benjamin, 10.Dunn, 11.Harry. Subs: 12.Casbierd, 14. Cowmeadow, 15.Jenkins, 16.Howards, 17.Inyang
Kidlington: 1.Barnett, 2.D'Adreu, 3.Flanagan, 4.Castle, 5.Hawkins(c), 6.Gabbidon, 7.Courtney, 18.Shepperd, 9.Osborne, 10.Smith, 11.U;as. Subs: 12.Aust, 13.Clarke, 14.Lucas, 16.Hilchev
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 205
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: Online
Game on, or so you would think. However, Ardley didn't panic and were the next to create a chance. James Watts smashing a low drive in from 25 yards that Barnett did well to get to and push away. Three minutes later, the same player fired in another low effort that required even more acrobatics form Barnet, this time at the expense of a corner.
Ardley continued to create the better chances and the lively Benjamin came within inches of claiming a hat-trick when he latched onto a loose ball some 10 yards out. However, a last ditch lunge from a Kidlington defender sent the ball spinning wide for a corner.
Barnett was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers. With fifteen minutes left he was out quickly and bravely to block at the feet of Alfie Dunn, then two minutes later he had to be brave again, diving at the feet of substitute George Cowmeadow, who stayed down after falling awkwardly. However, after a little treatment to his shoulder, he was able to continue. In the final 5-10 minutes Kidlington did step up their pace a little in an attempt to get back into the game, but they never really stretched Wicks.
FT Ardley United 2 Kidlington 1. The result sees Ardley move up one place and Kidlington remain in fifth place However, United are now just four points adrift of the Greens with three games in hand.
Up next for the Sky Blues is a home league game with mid-table Harefield United on Saturday. At the same time, Kidlington welcome another mid-table side, Holyport, to Yarnton Road.
Oh, and for anyone old enough to remember, the blog title is a play on the old Double Diamond advert.
Ardley United: 1.Wicks, 2.Gabbidon, 3.Taylor, 4.McConnell, 5.Barton(c), 6.Bailey, 7.Ngathe, 8.Watts, 9.Benjamin, 10.Dunn, 11.Harry. Subs: 12.Casbierd, 14. Cowmeadow, 15.Jenkins, 16.Howards, 17.Inyang
Kidlington: 1.Barnett, 2.D'Adreu, 3.Flanagan, 4.Castle, 5.Hawkins(c), 6.Gabbidon, 7.Courtney, 18.Shepperd, 9.Osborne, 10.Smith, 11.U;as. Subs: 12.Aust, 13.Clarke, 14.Lucas, 16.Hilchev
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 205
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: Online
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