King's Sutton notch eight goals at home to a bare bones Oxford Blackbirds side.
This Saturday, after watching my daughter's eventful first match of the season, I decided to keep things local. Having put out an X poll to decide the venue, King's Sutton v Oxford Blackbirds just edged out Chadlington v Hanborough. So, Oxfordshire Senior League Division Two it was. One of the reasons that I had interest in this game was down to knowing very little about the away side, Oxford Blackbirds. I'd come across their youth teams before. In fact, I'd coached my daughter's team against them a few times. I had no idea that they had a senior men's team though. I still can't find any history of the men's team. They did not appear I the Oxfordshire league last season, but have now popped up in Division Two. Maybe someone will see this and reply with a potted history?
One thing for certain, this was their first game of the season, but for King's Sutton, it would be their second outing, having lost 1-0 at home to Chesterton last weekend. Last season, Kings' Sutton played in the Premier Division of the Banbury District & Lord Jersey League, finishing as runners-up to Hook Norton. A repeat of their league position the previous season too.
Thanks to the Blackbirds' coach for letting me take a photo of the team sheets prior to kick-off.
One thing for certain, this was their first game of the season, but for King's Sutton, it would be their second outing, having lost 1-0 at home to Chesterton last weekend. Last season, Kings' Sutton played in the Premier Division of the Banbury District & Lord Jersey League, finishing as runners-up to Hook Norton. A repeat of their league position the previous season too.
Thanks to the Blackbirds' coach for letting me take a photo of the team sheets prior to kick-off.
Tom Clarke scores from the spot Having no real insight into Oxford Blackbirds, I obviously have no knowledge of their situation or why they only had the bare eleven and gave the impression, to the neutral observer, that they had been thrown together at the last minute. Compare and contrast the King's Sutton team, going through their pre-match routines in their warm-up shirts, rather than their match shirts.
Having said that, when the game kicked off, Blackbirds launched the ball forward and won themselves a corner within the opening few seconds. Nothing came from it and, to be honest, it ended up being the brightest spot of the first half for them.
Pretty soon, King's Sutton began to take control of the game. Tom Clarke got off the first strike in anger in the fourth minute, although it was well wide of the target. A minute later Sam Thomason saw his effort deflect up in the air and fall into the arms of Liam Hillis in the visitor's goal.
Just before the ten minute mark, however, the home side took the lead after Kelan McConnon's header was deflected for a corner. Clarke delivered the dead ball into a dangerous area and Dan Scarlett did the rest, bundling the ball over the line. 1-0
The home side's dominance continued. Joel Humphrey saw another effort deflected wide and Josh Brooker whistled a drive just over the bar from the edge of the box. Then, just past the midway stage, Sutton were awarded a penalty which was tucked away by Tom Clarke for 2-0 and, three minutes later, it was three. McConnon did well up the left, got past his man and drilled a low cross over, which was unfortunately turned into his own net by Rasool Aminu. 3-0
Just past the half-hour, Clarke delivered a peach of a cross for Humphrey who couldn't keep the finish down.
Closing in on the half-time whistle, Blackbirds did manage to win a free kick on the edge of the box. Oresti Mane took it, but wasn't able to trouble Carl Clay.
The visitors were temporarily reduced to 10-men after Tinashe Murombedzi took a knock to the head and needed to sit out for a while. However, with half-time on the horizon, they managed to hold the home side at bay. In fact, Oxford had possibly their best moment of the half in added time when Alfie Parsons flew down the left wing and drove towards goal before seeing his effort deflected for a corner.
HT Kings Sutton 3 Oxford Blackbirds 0. Sutton well in charge of the game and should probably have been further than three ahead. On a fairly warm afternoon, with no substitutes, the visitors may begin to tire as the second half draws on.
Having said that, when the game kicked off, Blackbirds launched the ball forward and won themselves a corner within the opening few seconds. Nothing came from it and, to be honest, it ended up being the brightest spot of the first half for them.
Pretty soon, King's Sutton began to take control of the game. Tom Clarke got off the first strike in anger in the fourth minute, although it was well wide of the target. A minute later Sam Thomason saw his effort deflect up in the air and fall into the arms of Liam Hillis in the visitor's goal.
Just before the ten minute mark, however, the home side took the lead after Kelan McConnon's header was deflected for a corner. Clarke delivered the dead ball into a dangerous area and Dan Scarlett did the rest, bundling the ball over the line. 1-0
The home side's dominance continued. Joel Humphrey saw another effort deflected wide and Josh Brooker whistled a drive just over the bar from the edge of the box. Then, just past the midway stage, Sutton were awarded a penalty which was tucked away by Tom Clarke for 2-0 and, three minutes later, it was three. McConnon did well up the left, got past his man and drilled a low cross over, which was unfortunately turned into his own net by Rasool Aminu. 3-0
Just past the half-hour, Clarke delivered a peach of a cross for Humphrey who couldn't keep the finish down.
Closing in on the half-time whistle, Blackbirds did manage to win a free kick on the edge of the box. Oresti Mane took it, but wasn't able to trouble Carl Clay.
The visitors were temporarily reduced to 10-men after Tinashe Murombedzi took a knock to the head and needed to sit out for a while. However, with half-time on the horizon, they managed to hold the home side at bay. In fact, Oxford had possibly their best moment of the half in added time when Alfie Parsons flew down the left wing and drove towards goal before seeing his effort deflected for a corner.
HT Kings Sutton 3 Oxford Blackbirds 0. Sutton well in charge of the game and should probably have been further than three ahead. On a fairly warm afternoon, with no substitutes, the visitors may begin to tire as the second half draws on.
Oresti Mane looks to get Blackbirds on the scoresheet King's Sutton started the second period on top, as they had been in the first half. Humphrey saw yet another effort deflected wide and Brooker possibly should have done better with a close range header, all within five minutes or so of the restart. Tom Clarke then tried to shape an effort into the top corner but sent it slightly wide of target. That turned out to be a sighter though. Just before the hour he picked the ball up on the edge of the box, feinted one way, shifted the ball and sent a low, curling effort into the bottom corner. 4-0
That goal signalled a mini avalanche of goals. Four minutes later, Humphrey delivered a pinpoint, deep cross from the left, finding Ethan Wilks at the far post, who planted his header past Hillis. 5-0. A further three minutes and five became six when Sutton were awarded a second penalty after Kelan McConnon was tugged back in the box. The same player stepped up, calmly rolling the spot-kick in for 6-0
Oxford, to their credit, had not thrown in the towel and, Oresti Mane, in particular, was still trying to pose a threat. His twisting and turning almost engineered something on 68 minutes, but his final effort was blocked for a corner.
It was then the turn of another home substitute to make his mark. Jimmy Kimani took aim from the edge of the box and fired in the seventh in the 72nd minute. 7-0. The same player then added a second 11 minutes later, rifling the ball home from close range to make it 8-0.
With time ticking away, Blackbirds had one more opportunity to get a consolation when they were awarded another freekick on the edge of the box. This one was struck by Antony Njogu but, despite it being hit well enough for Clay to throw himself to his left, the ball clipped off the ball and went well wide, summing up Oxford's afternoon.
FT King's Sutton 8 Oxford Blackbirds 0. A very comfortable three points for Kings Sutton that sees them climb to third in the table. Blackbirds sit second from bottom, above Long Crendon, who have played a game more, on goal difference. Next up for Kings Sutton is a John Prentice Lower Junior Cup tie at Finedon Volta Reserves on Saturday. Blackbirds make the trip to mid-table Hanney who have won one, against bottom side Long Crendon, and lost one, against leaders Woodstock Town, so far.
King's Sutton: 13.Clay, 2.Witton, 4.Axtell, 17.Scarlett, 3.Connor, 8.Brooker, 10.Wicks, 5.Clarke, 12.McConnon, 14.Humphrey, 9.Thomason. Subs: Robertshaw, Raza, Kimani, Cooke, Wilks
Oxford Blackbirds: 1.Hillis, 4.Excell, 3.Wheal, 6.Aminu, 8.Harris, 15.Murombedzi, 7.Evans, 10.Young, 5.Njogu, 11.Mane, 9.Parson
That goal signalled a mini avalanche of goals. Four minutes later, Humphrey delivered a pinpoint, deep cross from the left, finding Ethan Wilks at the far post, who planted his header past Hillis. 5-0. A further three minutes and five became six when Sutton were awarded a second penalty after Kelan McConnon was tugged back in the box. The same player stepped up, calmly rolling the spot-kick in for 6-0
Oxford, to their credit, had not thrown in the towel and, Oresti Mane, in particular, was still trying to pose a threat. His twisting and turning almost engineered something on 68 minutes, but his final effort was blocked for a corner.
It was then the turn of another home substitute to make his mark. Jimmy Kimani took aim from the edge of the box and fired in the seventh in the 72nd minute. 7-0. The same player then added a second 11 minutes later, rifling the ball home from close range to make it 8-0.
With time ticking away, Blackbirds had one more opportunity to get a consolation when they were awarded another freekick on the edge of the box. This one was struck by Antony Njogu but, despite it being hit well enough for Clay to throw himself to his left, the ball clipped off the ball and went well wide, summing up Oxford's afternoon.
FT King's Sutton 8 Oxford Blackbirds 0. A very comfortable three points for Kings Sutton that sees them climb to third in the table. Blackbirds sit second from bottom, above Long Crendon, who have played a game more, on goal difference. Next up for Kings Sutton is a John Prentice Lower Junior Cup tie at Finedon Volta Reserves on Saturday. Blackbirds make the trip to mid-table Hanney who have won one, against bottom side Long Crendon, and lost one, against leaders Woodstock Town, so far.
King's Sutton: 13.Clay, 2.Witton, 4.Axtell, 17.Scarlett, 3.Connor, 8.Brooker, 10.Wicks, 5.Clarke, 12.McConnon, 14.Humphrey, 9.Thomason. Subs: Robertshaw, Raza, Kimani, Cooke, Wilks
Oxford Blackbirds: 1.Hillis, 4.Excell, 3.Wheal, 6.Aminu, 8.Harris, 15.Murombedzi, 7.Evans, 10.Young, 5.Njogu, 11.Mane, 9.Parson
Dugouts
The Ground
King's Sutton play their home games at Kings Sutton Playing Fields, a multi-sport venue on the eastern outskirts of the village. As well as the football team, the playing fields also plays host to cricket and Kings Sutton Tennis Club. There's a fairly large car park with the football pitch immediately to the right. The pavilion that houses the changing areas and spectator toilets, sits on ang angle at the edge of the car park, looking out over the football and cricket pitches.
There are two dugouts on the Astrop Road side of the pitch, but no other spectator cover. The paying surface is pretty much flat with no discernible slope.
Ground Number: 497
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
King's Sutton play their home games at Kings Sutton Playing Fields, a multi-sport venue on the eastern outskirts of the village. As well as the football team, the playing fields also plays host to cricket and Kings Sutton Tennis Club. There's a fairly large car park with the football pitch immediately to the right. The pavilion that houses the changing areas and spectator toilets, sits on ang angle at the edge of the car park, looking out over the football and cricket pitches.
There are two dugouts on the Astrop Road side of the pitch, but no other spectator cover. The paying surface is pretty much flat with no discernible slope.
Ground Number: 497
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Carl Clay flies across his goal
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