For the second season running my first outing of the new season was taking place even before August had begun. This year, in fact, I was even a few days earlier than last season's trip to Wellingborough. The plan as to make the short trip over to Enstone for a Henry Hawtin Memorial Cup Group B clash between Stonesfield and Chadlington and so start the new season with a new ground and two new teams. To be honest, before the game, I knew very little about this competition and, to be fair, even after the game I still know very little about it. I did find that a Henry Hawtin, born in Adderbury, lived in the local area from 1808 to 1875. Is this the Henry Hawtin? If so, this competition could date back quite some time. I'd be really interested to know more if any local historians out there have more details.
One thing I could find out, thanks to the Chadlington X feed, was that both sides had already played one game in the group. Chadlington beat Ducklington 2-1 (goals from Isaac Harrington and Jordan Godfrey) and sat at the top of the table. Stonesfield opened their campaign by drawing 1-1 with Milton-u-Wychwood and sat third. With the top two teams progressing, a win for Chadlington would pretty much guarantee their place in the next round.
Both of these teams will play in the Witney & District Premier League next season. Lats year Stonesfield finished in sixth spot having won 5 and drawn 3 of their 14 matches. Chadlington gained promotion from Division One on the back of a second place finish behind Tower Hill. The side's last played in the same division back in 2018-19. The game at Stonesfield ended 2-2 whilst Stones took the away game 2-1, on their way to winning the league. Chadlington finished the season in third spot, seven points adrift of the leaders.
Thanks to the referee, who's name I forgot to ask, for allowing me to photograph the team sheets. Sadly, no shirt numbers were provided, so I haven't been able to match names to shirts.
One thing I could find out, thanks to the Chadlington X feed, was that both sides had already played one game in the group. Chadlington beat Ducklington 2-1 (goals from Isaac Harrington and Jordan Godfrey) and sat at the top of the table. Stonesfield opened their campaign by drawing 1-1 with Milton-u-Wychwood and sat third. With the top two teams progressing, a win for Chadlington would pretty much guarantee their place in the next round.
Both of these teams will play in the Witney & District Premier League next season. Lats year Stonesfield finished in sixth spot having won 5 and drawn 3 of their 14 matches. Chadlington gained promotion from Division One on the back of a second place finish behind Tower Hill. The side's last played in the same division back in 2018-19. The game at Stonesfield ended 2-2 whilst Stones took the away game 2-1, on their way to winning the league. Chadlington finished the season in third spot, seven points adrift of the leaders.
Thanks to the referee, who's name I forgot to ask, for allowing me to photograph the team sheets. Sadly, no shirt numbers were provided, so I haven't been able to match names to shirts.
Stonesfield clear their lines It was Stonesfield, in the yellow kit kicking down the slope, who started the more lively of the two. They engineered a couple of half-chances in the opening few minutes before taking the lead after 11 minutes. Chadlington had not yet got themselves into the game at all when Stonesfield's right-winger (Number 7) wriggled free, drove to the by-line and squared for their Number 11 to tap the ball home. 1-0
Whilst well-deserved on the opening few minutes, the goal served as a kick up the backside for Chadlington. Two minutes later, they were level. Captain Ethan Bennett produced a perfect slide-rule pass for Kyle Grimmett to run onto, and his first time strike with the outside of the left-foot gave the Stonefield keeper no chance. 1-1
Chadlington had awoken. They now had Stonesfield on the backfoot and immediately set about looking for a second goal. Tyler Bradley's snapshot flew just over the bar after 23 minutes and a minute later the Stonefield goalkeeper had to be at his best to block from Chadlington's Number 9. However, the stopper had no chance whatsoever in the 26 minute. Tyler Bradley, who had put an effort just over a few minutes beforehand, had clearly used the opportunity to get his rangefinder working as he unleashed a dipping volley from 30 yards that flew pat the Stones keeper. 1-2
Stonesfield tried to hit back almost immediately and it was their number 7 again, who had looked their biggest threat so far, this time testing Will Foster with a low drive from a tight angle. A few minutes later Stonesfield engineered another golden opportunity with a neat passing move that culminated in the Number 9 being set up some 12 yards out. However as he struck goalward Chadlington's number 17 slid in from nowhere to make a incredible last ditch block.
Chadlington then almost grabbed a third goal after a quick break allowed Prince Nyongolo a run a goal. His curled effort drifted just wide of the far post. Then just before the break, another long ball saw Chadlington's Number 10 beat the defensive line only for his lobbed effort, under pressure from an advancing goalkeeper, fall wide of the post.
HT Stonesfield 1 Chadlington 2. A really fast start from Stonesfield but Chadlington responded well to going behind and edged the half after that point.
Whilst well-deserved on the opening few minutes, the goal served as a kick up the backside for Chadlington. Two minutes later, they were level. Captain Ethan Bennett produced a perfect slide-rule pass for Kyle Grimmett to run onto, and his first time strike with the outside of the left-foot gave the Stonefield keeper no chance. 1-1
Chadlington had awoken. They now had Stonesfield on the backfoot and immediately set about looking for a second goal. Tyler Bradley's snapshot flew just over the bar after 23 minutes and a minute later the Stonefield goalkeeper had to be at his best to block from Chadlington's Number 9. However, the stopper had no chance whatsoever in the 26 minute. Tyler Bradley, who had put an effort just over a few minutes beforehand, had clearly used the opportunity to get his rangefinder working as he unleashed a dipping volley from 30 yards that flew pat the Stones keeper. 1-2
Stonesfield tried to hit back almost immediately and it was their number 7 again, who had looked their biggest threat so far, this time testing Will Foster with a low drive from a tight angle. A few minutes later Stonesfield engineered another golden opportunity with a neat passing move that culminated in the Number 9 being set up some 12 yards out. However as he struck goalward Chadlington's number 17 slid in from nowhere to make a incredible last ditch block.
Chadlington then almost grabbed a third goal after a quick break allowed Prince Nyongolo a run a goal. His curled effort drifted just wide of the far post. Then just before the break, another long ball saw Chadlington's Number 10 beat the defensive line only for his lobbed effort, under pressure from an advancing goalkeeper, fall wide of the post.
HT Stonesfield 1 Chadlington 2. A really fast start from Stonesfield but Chadlington responded well to going behind and edged the half after that point.
Chadlington defending Whereas Stonesfield had started the first half strongly, it was the blue and white stripes of Chadlington that surged forward early in the second period, and they so nearly added to their tally inside two minutes of the restart. Their Number 8 produced an excellent pass that sliced open the Stones defence, allowing Bradley to drive low past the keeper only to see his effort come back off the inside of the far post.
So close to a third for Chadlington but they weren't allowed to rest on their laurels because 10 minutes into the half, Stonesfield were back on level terms following a corner from the left that was not fully cleared. When the ball was recycled, Number 7 was on the spot to flick the ball high past Foster. 2-2.
The goal swung the pendulum again. Now it was Stonesfield looking the more likely to score a third and, just past the hour mark, they would have done just that if not for a brilliant, full-length stop from Chadlington stopper Will Foster. It's not just goals that win games. Saves like that make a huge difference too. It allowed Chadlington to steady themselves and calm the game down.
For the next ten minutes, neither side managed to generate a significant goalscoring opportunity but, as we close din on the final 10 minutes, Chadlington once again began to step things up. Their number 12 had two bites at the cherry from 15 yards out, volleying the second effort just wide of the mark before, on 82 minutes, they retook the lead with an almost identical goal to Stonesfield's first-half opener. Chadlington's Number 9 got to the same by-line before laying it on a plate for Jordan Godfrey to slot home the third. 2-3
There was still time for Stonesfield's Number 9 to send a volley marginally over Foster's bar and for Bradley to send a drive straight at the Stonesfield keeper, before the referee drew a close to an entertaining game of football.
FT Stonesfield 2 Chadlington 3. Not a bad way to open the BotP account for the season. Two good sides producing a very competitive game. There really wasn't too much between them. Both had periods when they were on top but, ultimately, Chadlington edged it because they finished one more chance than their opponents.
Stonesfield (squad): Hatton, J.Newman, Wynn, Holloway, Wiggins, D.Newman, J.Barker, Hart, Oliver, Phipps, W.Barker, Clarke, Sale, Connolly
Chadlington (squad): Foster, Betts, A.Bennett, Curtis, Harris, Nelson, E.Bennett(c), I.Harrington, Grimmett, Bradley, Peachey, Nyongolo, Godfrey, S.Harrington, Fuller, Bolt
So close to a third for Chadlington but they weren't allowed to rest on their laurels because 10 minutes into the half, Stonesfield were back on level terms following a corner from the left that was not fully cleared. When the ball was recycled, Number 7 was on the spot to flick the ball high past Foster. 2-2.
The goal swung the pendulum again. Now it was Stonesfield looking the more likely to score a third and, just past the hour mark, they would have done just that if not for a brilliant, full-length stop from Chadlington stopper Will Foster. It's not just goals that win games. Saves like that make a huge difference too. It allowed Chadlington to steady themselves and calm the game down.
For the next ten minutes, neither side managed to generate a significant goalscoring opportunity but, as we close din on the final 10 minutes, Chadlington once again began to step things up. Their number 12 had two bites at the cherry from 15 yards out, volleying the second effort just wide of the mark before, on 82 minutes, they retook the lead with an almost identical goal to Stonesfield's first-half opener. Chadlington's Number 9 got to the same by-line before laying it on a plate for Jordan Godfrey to slot home the third. 2-3
There was still time for Stonesfield's Number 9 to send a volley marginally over Foster's bar and for Bradley to send a drive straight at the Stonesfield keeper, before the referee drew a close to an entertaining game of football.
FT Stonesfield 2 Chadlington 3. Not a bad way to open the BotP account for the season. Two good sides producing a very competitive game. There really wasn't too much between them. Both had periods when they were on top but, ultimately, Chadlington edged it because they finished one more chance than their opponents.
Stonesfield (squad): Hatton, J.Newman, Wynn, Holloway, Wiggins, D.Newman, J.Barker, Hart, Oliver, Phipps, W.Barker, Clarke, Sale, Connolly
Chadlington (squad): Foster, Betts, A.Bennett, Curtis, Harris, Nelson, E.Bennett(c), I.Harrington, Grimmett, Bradley, Peachey, Nyongolo, Godfrey, S.Harrington, Fuller, Bolt
Stones go close
The Ground
Enstone Sports & Social club is situated just outside the village of Enstone, between Chipping Norton and Kidlington. The ground has two football pitches and a cricket pitch. There's car parking next to the stone pavilion, which houses a licensed bar as well as changing facilities for players and officials.
The main pitch is directly alongside the pavilion and car park. There is a slope from right to left as you look from the car park side. There are no covered spectator areas but there is some shelter provided by overhanging trees and, in extremes, you could still watch the game from the pavilion. It's clearly a popular community location as shown by the large turnout for this pre-season match.
Ground Number: 410
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Enstone Sports & Social club is situated just outside the village of Enstone, between Chipping Norton and Kidlington. The ground has two football pitches and a cricket pitch. There's car parking next to the stone pavilion, which houses a licensed bar as well as changing facilities for players and officials.
The main pitch is directly alongside the pavilion and car park. There is a slope from right to left as you look from the car park side. There are no covered spectator areas but there is some shelter provided by overhanging trees and, in extremes, you could still watch the game from the pavilion. It's clearly a popular community location as shown by the large turnout for this pre-season match.
Ground Number: 410
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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