After putting out a short poll to see where I should go to on Saturday afternoon, I was unanimously guided toward Hanborough Playing Field for another episode in the fascinating battle for the Witney and District Premier League title. At the end of January I was at Aston to see the then league leaders take on Bampton United (Aston Killer). Bampton won 3-1 which meant that Hanborough took over at the top, with Bampton in second on goal difference. At the start of play today, Bampton sat in pole position on goal difference form RAF Brize Norton. Hanborough were in third, a point adrift of the top two with Hailey in fourth, one more point back. Aston were now in sixth spot, and probably out of the running, having lost both league games since the Bampton match. However, with only three points separating Bampton and fifth placed Stonesfield (who have four game sin hand on the leaders), the title race looks like it is going to the wire. Any early season meeting between Hailey and Hanborough had ended 2-1 to Hailey, so the home team were looking for a bit of revenge today.
Today's game saw the two teams who, between them, had won five of the last six full-competed Premier League titles. Hailey were looking for their fourth championship on the bounce, whereas Hanborough won both the 2017 and 2018 title.
Many thanks to match referee Clifford Grove for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off. However, with no shirt numbers on the sheet (at least when I had sight of it), today's match blog has required a fair bit of detective work, starting with trying to match shirts to names called out during the game. Not exactly scientific, I know. So, forgive me if there are incorrect names in the match blog. I'll gladly correct them if/when informed.
Today's game saw the two teams who, between them, had won five of the last six full-competed Premier League titles. Hailey were looking for their fourth championship on the bounce, whereas Hanborough won both the 2017 and 2018 title.
Many thanks to match referee Clifford Grove for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off. However, with no shirt numbers on the sheet (at least when I had sight of it), today's match blog has required a fair bit of detective work, starting with trying to match shirts to names called out during the game. Not exactly scientific, I know. So, forgive me if there are incorrect names in the match blog. I'll gladly correct them if/when informed.
If ever you wanted to see an example of the old adage "Let them know you are there with the first one", it was very clearly on show within the first minute of this game. The wonderfully named Hanborough striker, Alpha Breezy Kamara, burst down the left flank only to have his run cut short by an awful challenge from Hailey's Cam Foster. There appeared to be no intent to play the ball, and every intent to play the man. The referee produced a yellow card but it could, and probably should, have been red.
Kamara continued after some treatment, but soon had to leave the pitch to be replaced by Bishop, although he did manage to return later on. The benefit of the rolling substitute system.
Hanborough had started the game well, but their opponents began to ease their way into the game and, by the fifteenth minute, the pendulum had swung in the opposite direction. In the 8th minute, Hailey took the lead when Sam Wheeler's deep cross from the right was met by the head of Byron Townsend, who planted the ball back across Pearce into the corner of the Reds net. 0-1.
Eight minutes later it was two. Hailey's goalkeeper Jack Rideout, launched a massive clearance (he'd been practicing this in the warm-up) deep into the heart of the Hanborough half. Neither defender or keeper was decisive enough, allowing Hailey captain Jack Wood to nip in and poke the ball past Pearce for 0-2. Hanborough were rocking now and Hailey sensed their chance to put the game to bed. Two minutes after the second goal they made it three. Another cross from the right, this time from Wood, found Freddie Buckingham, who controlled the bouncing ball well on his chest before slotting a left-footed strike into the corner of the net. 0-3.
Hanborough were all over the place at this point and, five minutes later, they almost gave away a fourth when Pearce presented the ball to Wood some 25 yards out with the goalkeeper well out of his ground. Fortunately for the Hanborough stopper, the Hailey captain was off target with his lob.
However, the Reds soon found themselves four down when the referee applied the advantage rule brilliantly, delaying his whistle for a free-kick to Hailey just long enough to allow Buckingham to get his second goal, with a low drive from 25 yards. 0-4.
With eight minutes remaining in the half, it was already looking like game over. That was for a minute. Then Hanborough, out of nowhere, got a goal back. King's low cross from the right was not dealt with, allowing Jonny Ayris to stab the ball past Rideout. 1-4. Suddenly, Hanborough could see a way back and, with just a couple of minutes left to paly in the first half, only a good save from Rideout prevented the host from getting a second goal back.
HT Hanborough 1 Hailey 4. The visitors showed a ruthless streak in front of goal. When they had been on top, they pressed home their advantage, scoring four times in under 20 minutes. Hanborough had looked out of it until they got a goal back. Suddenly there seemed to be a little more belief. The first goal of the second half would be very telling
Kamara continued after some treatment, but soon had to leave the pitch to be replaced by Bishop, although he did manage to return later on. The benefit of the rolling substitute system.
Hanborough had started the game well, but their opponents began to ease their way into the game and, by the fifteenth minute, the pendulum had swung in the opposite direction. In the 8th minute, Hailey took the lead when Sam Wheeler's deep cross from the right was met by the head of Byron Townsend, who planted the ball back across Pearce into the corner of the Reds net. 0-1.
Eight minutes later it was two. Hailey's goalkeeper Jack Rideout, launched a massive clearance (he'd been practicing this in the warm-up) deep into the heart of the Hanborough half. Neither defender or keeper was decisive enough, allowing Hailey captain Jack Wood to nip in and poke the ball past Pearce for 0-2. Hanborough were rocking now and Hailey sensed their chance to put the game to bed. Two minutes after the second goal they made it three. Another cross from the right, this time from Wood, found Freddie Buckingham, who controlled the bouncing ball well on his chest before slotting a left-footed strike into the corner of the net. 0-3.
Hanborough were all over the place at this point and, five minutes later, they almost gave away a fourth when Pearce presented the ball to Wood some 25 yards out with the goalkeeper well out of his ground. Fortunately for the Hanborough stopper, the Hailey captain was off target with his lob.
However, the Reds soon found themselves four down when the referee applied the advantage rule brilliantly, delaying his whistle for a free-kick to Hailey just long enough to allow Buckingham to get his second goal, with a low drive from 25 yards. 0-4.
With eight minutes remaining in the half, it was already looking like game over. That was for a minute. Then Hanborough, out of nowhere, got a goal back. King's low cross from the right was not dealt with, allowing Jonny Ayris to stab the ball past Rideout. 1-4. Suddenly, Hanborough could see a way back and, with just a couple of minutes left to paly in the first half, only a good save from Rideout prevented the host from getting a second goal back.
HT Hanborough 1 Hailey 4. The visitors showed a ruthless streak in front of goal. When they had been on top, they pressed home their advantage, scoring four times in under 20 minutes. Hanborough had looked out of it until they got a goal back. Suddenly there seemed to be a little more belief. The first goal of the second half would be very telling
As it happened, thinking of the first goal of the second half was wishful thinking. Whilst Hanborough improved a lot in the second period, and Hailey probably took their foot off the pedal a little, the home side never really looked like they were going to get the goals back. If they'd managed to get another early in the half, it could well have been a different game, but they didn't and it wasn't.
There was very little to post in the second 45 minutes. Hanborough huffed and puffed. A series of long throws from Dan King caused some mild discomfort to the Hailey back-line, but they generally dealt very comfortably with everything the home side could muster.
In the end, neither side could find another goal, although the second half was more about game management for Hailey. They'd done the damage already and were more concerned with maintaining their three goal lead.
FT Hanborough 1 Hailey 4. The visitors put their pedal to the metal for 20 minutes or so in the first half, taking full control and scoring whilst they were completely on top. So many times teams fail to take advantage of times that they dominate possession. This was certainly not the case today. Hanborough responded well in the second half and were certainly a better team than their first half display showed. However, they couldn't quite find a way to get the second goal that just may have given the visitors some doubts.
The result, combined with Stonesfield winning at Aston, means that Hailey jump to the top of the table, a point clear of Stonesfield. Bampton drop to third, followed by RAF Brize Norton (both on the same points as Stonesfield) and then Hanborough in fifth, a further point back.
Next week Hailey are at home to eighth placed Charlbury Town, who they beat 2-1 in the reverse fixture. Meanwhile, Hanborough are back at home where they face Stonesfield in the first meeting of the two this season.
Hanborough: Pearce, Sandland, Deasy, 20.Keylock(c), 4.Ayris, 6.King, 5.Rogers, 2.Kamara, Mathias, Hunt, Simmonds. Subs: 11.Bishop, Bowerman, Perkins
Hailey: Rideout, 11.Foster, 26.Wright, Evans, 7.Wheeler, 8.Townsend, Muttock, O'Connor, 2McNaughton, Buckingham, 4.Wood(c). Subs: Knapton, McCudden, 13.Pritchard
There was very little to post in the second 45 minutes. Hanborough huffed and puffed. A series of long throws from Dan King caused some mild discomfort to the Hailey back-line, but they generally dealt very comfortably with everything the home side could muster.
In the end, neither side could find another goal, although the second half was more about game management for Hailey. They'd done the damage already and were more concerned with maintaining their three goal lead.
FT Hanborough 1 Hailey 4. The visitors put their pedal to the metal for 20 minutes or so in the first half, taking full control and scoring whilst they were completely on top. So many times teams fail to take advantage of times that they dominate possession. This was certainly not the case today. Hanborough responded well in the second half and were certainly a better team than their first half display showed. However, they couldn't quite find a way to get the second goal that just may have given the visitors some doubts.
The result, combined with Stonesfield winning at Aston, means that Hailey jump to the top of the table, a point clear of Stonesfield. Bampton drop to third, followed by RAF Brize Norton (both on the same points as Stonesfield) and then Hanborough in fifth, a further point back.
Next week Hailey are at home to eighth placed Charlbury Town, who they beat 2-1 in the reverse fixture. Meanwhile, Hanborough are back at home where they face Stonesfield in the first meeting of the two this season.
Hanborough: Pearce, Sandland, Deasy, 20.Keylock(c), 4.Ayris, 6.King, 5.Rogers, 2.Kamara, Mathias, Hunt, Simmonds. Subs: 11.Bishop, Bowerman, Perkins
Hailey: Rideout, 11.Foster, 26.Wright, Evans, 7.Wheeler, 8.Townsend, Muttock, O'Connor, 2McNaughton, Buckingham, 4.Wood(c). Subs: Knapton, McCudden, 13.Pritchard
Hanborough Playing Field
The Ground
Hanborough Playing Fields are situated just off the main drag (A4095) that runs through Long Hanborough. Aside from being the home of Hanborough FC, the local bowls club and cricket club is also based at the ground. There is also an artificial surface tennis court and small-sided pitch as well as a number of small-sided grass pitches spread around the facility. There's a good-sized car park adjacent to The Pavilion, which appears to be a local community centre. Next to that building is a block that houses the changing facilities. The main pitch is in front of the pavilion, just off to the right as you look from the car park. On the right-hand side of the pitch there are dugouts for both teams, the opposite side is open and partially roped off to protect the cricket square. There's no spectator cover. The pitch slopes a little back towards the pavilion but looked to be in generally good condition.
Ground Number: 442
Att:
Entrance:
Programme:
Hanborough Playing Fields are situated just off the main drag (A4095) that runs through Long Hanborough. Aside from being the home of Hanborough FC, the local bowls club and cricket club is also based at the ground. There is also an artificial surface tennis court and small-sided pitch as well as a number of small-sided grass pitches spread around the facility. There's a good-sized car park adjacent to The Pavilion, which appears to be a local community centre. Next to that building is a block that houses the changing facilities. The main pitch is in front of the pavilion, just off to the right as you look from the car park. On the right-hand side of the pitch there are dugouts for both teams, the opposite side is open and partially roped off to protect the cricket square. There's no spectator cover. The pitch slopes a little back towards the pavilion but looked to be in generally good condition.
Ground Number: 442
Att:
Entrance:
Programme:
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