After missing out on a game last weekend, I was very keen to get out and about on Sunday, although the weather was doing its best to make that difficult. Luckily, there's no such problem at Oxfords City's MGroup Stadium and, with Woodley United coming to town, it looked like the perfect opportunity. Close to home and the promise of a good game of football.
Oxford City were starting the day ion fourth spot, Woodley a place and a point below them. However, the pack of four teams below leaders Ascot, were all only separated by two points. City suffered their only league home defeat of the season so far last time out, going down 3-1 to Ascot. Woodley had also lost at home in their last game, also a 3-1 defeat, at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers. The reverse fixture between the teams, back in October, had finished 6-3 to Oxford.
Oxford City were starting the day ion fourth spot, Woodley a place and a point below them. However, the pack of four teams below leaders Ascot, were all only separated by two points. City suffered their only league home defeat of the season so far last time out, going down 3-1 to Ascot. Woodley had also lost at home in their last game, also a 3-1 defeat, at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers. The reverse fixture between the teams, back in October, had finished 6-3 to Oxford.
City threaten again Woodley got the game under way but it was the home side who took the early initiative, pressing their visitors back from the first minute. Woodley, already depleted with only two on the bench, were further hampered just four minutes in when Alex Ayckbourn stayed down after a challenge. She was eventually helped off, to be replaced by Kate Hudson. Fingers crossed that the injury isn't too bad.
With the ball seemingly trapped inside the Woodley half, it was only a matter of time until the hosts got a breakthrough. That came int he 13th minute when Billie Bough-French sent a long free-kick into the heart of the Woodley area. Goalkeeper Jo Novak-Allum appeared to think it was sailing wide but the ball struck the joint of post and bar, dropping into the 6-yard box where Emily Harris was quickest to react. 1-0
City continued to push forward after the goal. Woodley were having to defend like lion's to even stay in the game at this point. Credit to the way they dug in at the back led by captain Ellen Surtees and bolstered by the always-impressive Charley Evans. However, United could not get the ball to stick with Sarah Lawrence of Chloe Melton up front. Reduced to longer balls up the forwards, was playing into the hands of a very solid home defence, commanded by the imposing figure of Billie Bough-French. In the midfield, City captain Georgina Tayman was getting way too much room, allowing her to spray passes around at will. With the pace and clever running of the Oxford forward line, this was always going to be a problem for Woodley. The ball inside the full-back, especially on the left where the overlapping pace of Emma Donohoe was causing havoc, had the Woodley defence scrambling to cover on numerous occasions.
However, the visitors were holding out. A Tayman strike on the half-hour was easily fielde3d by Novak-Allum and a Donohoe cross, perfect for Isobel Bradley, was wastefully planed wide. When the normally deadly Ellie White hit the side-netting when put through on 40 minutes, it looked as if Woodley may go into the break only a goal down. However, with three minutes of normal time remaining, White drove into the left-hand side of the box before firing a low ball across the 6-yard line. It was half scrambled clear, but only into the path of Emily Harris, who once again made no mistake. 2-0.
That goal almost opened the floodgates before the half-time whistle. Twice substitute Lucy White came close, the second of which required some excellent anticipation from Novak-Allum, racing off her line to block after a through ball had sent White clear. Ellie White latched onto the loose ball but was unlucky to see her strike from 20 yards whistle narrowly past the post.
HT Oxford City 2 Woodley United 0. A dominant City will probably wonder why they are only two to the good at half-time. Woodley defended stoically but have not been able to trouble Maskell. The waves of City attacks were almost relentless. It was going to be a tough second half for Woodley, especially as they had limited options to bring on fresh legs.
With the ball seemingly trapped inside the Woodley half, it was only a matter of time until the hosts got a breakthrough. That came int he 13th minute when Billie Bough-French sent a long free-kick into the heart of the Woodley area. Goalkeeper Jo Novak-Allum appeared to think it was sailing wide but the ball struck the joint of post and bar, dropping into the 6-yard box where Emily Harris was quickest to react. 1-0
City continued to push forward after the goal. Woodley were having to defend like lion's to even stay in the game at this point. Credit to the way they dug in at the back led by captain Ellen Surtees and bolstered by the always-impressive Charley Evans. However, United could not get the ball to stick with Sarah Lawrence of Chloe Melton up front. Reduced to longer balls up the forwards, was playing into the hands of a very solid home defence, commanded by the imposing figure of Billie Bough-French. In the midfield, City captain Georgina Tayman was getting way too much room, allowing her to spray passes around at will. With the pace and clever running of the Oxford forward line, this was always going to be a problem for Woodley. The ball inside the full-back, especially on the left where the overlapping pace of Emma Donohoe was causing havoc, had the Woodley defence scrambling to cover on numerous occasions.
However, the visitors were holding out. A Tayman strike on the half-hour was easily fielde3d by Novak-Allum and a Donohoe cross, perfect for Isobel Bradley, was wastefully planed wide. When the normally deadly Ellie White hit the side-netting when put through on 40 minutes, it looked as if Woodley may go into the break only a goal down. However, with three minutes of normal time remaining, White drove into the left-hand side of the box before firing a low ball across the 6-yard line. It was half scrambled clear, but only into the path of Emily Harris, who once again made no mistake. 2-0.
That goal almost opened the floodgates before the half-time whistle. Twice substitute Lucy White came close, the second of which required some excellent anticipation from Novak-Allum, racing off her line to block after a through ball had sent White clear. Ellie White latched onto the loose ball but was unlucky to see her strike from 20 yards whistle narrowly past the post.
HT Oxford City 2 Woodley United 0. A dominant City will probably wonder why they are only two to the good at half-time. Woodley defended stoically but have not been able to trouble Maskell. The waves of City attacks were almost relentless. It was going to be a tough second half for Woodley, especially as they had limited options to bring on fresh legs.
More City pressure Oxford took no time at all to get back into the swing of the game in the second half. Thee minutes in another defence splitting pass inside the right-back put Emily Harris in the clear. Her cross was too high for Lucy White and Emma Donohoe was just unable to get a clean head onto the bouncing ball at the far post, but it was another warning to Woodley.
Ten minutes into the second half we saw a real rarity, a Charley Evans mistake. The Woodley defender seemed to slip on the ball, allowing Ellie White to pounce but, once again, United had Novak-Allum to thank, as she made another good block. Evans appeared to have picked up a knock to her already bandaged knee in the incident. Former Caversham defender Shannon Hobson took to the field in replacement.
Just before the hour mark, City made it three in somewhat fortunate circumstances. The ball found substitute Ellie Walecki out on the left flank. Her delivery, aimed at the far post, was slightly miscued, sending it looping over Novak-Allum before dropping into the far corner of the net. 3-0.
This time the floodgates did open, as the third goal took some of the fight out of a tiring Woodley team. Chasing the ball for an hour is hard work.
Just the other side of the hour mark, Ellie White sprung the offside trap, running clear onto a Tayman through ball, before calmly passing the ball into the bottom corner. 4-0. Three minutes later White turned provider, bursting down the right before drilling a ball across the 6-yard box. Initially it eluded everyone, only to reach Emma Donohoe at the far post. With the angle a little tight, the wing-back unselfishly squared the ball into the path of Georgina Tayman, who lashed it into the roof of the net. 5-0
With Woodley now on the rack and the game already gone, the next goal came as a surprise. Three minutes after going five down, Woodley showed some spirit. Chloe Melton's perfectly weighted pass found Sarah Lawrence free on the left-hand side of the box. As Keira Maskell came off her line to narrow the angle, Lawrence expertly lifted a first-time effort over her and into the net. Great finish. 5-1
After four goals in just over ten minutes, the game slipped into a state of relative calm but then, in the 80th minute, Kaitlyn Crouch, back on the pitch after a first-half substitution, showed some really nifty close control in the box to engineer an angle. She then deftly rolled a precision shot in off the far post to make it 6-1.
Charley Evans, back on after recovering from her knock, then tried to set Woodley back on the road by launching a break from her own penalty area. He through ball found Lawrence, who lifted it over Oxford's substitute goalkeeper Grace Kazhir, on after Maskell picked up a knock, only to see the ball drop wide of the left-hand post.
In the 90th minute Bough-French delivered another free-kick deep into the Woodley penalty area. Novak-Allum stretched to claim it, high above her head, but let the ball slip, allowing Kaitlyn Crouch to bundle her second over the line. 7-1
Ten minutes into the second half we saw a real rarity, a Charley Evans mistake. The Woodley defender seemed to slip on the ball, allowing Ellie White to pounce but, once again, United had Novak-Allum to thank, as she made another good block. Evans appeared to have picked up a knock to her already bandaged knee in the incident. Former Caversham defender Shannon Hobson took to the field in replacement.
Just before the hour mark, City made it three in somewhat fortunate circumstances. The ball found substitute Ellie Walecki out on the left flank. Her delivery, aimed at the far post, was slightly miscued, sending it looping over Novak-Allum before dropping into the far corner of the net. 3-0.
This time the floodgates did open, as the third goal took some of the fight out of a tiring Woodley team. Chasing the ball for an hour is hard work.
Just the other side of the hour mark, Ellie White sprung the offside trap, running clear onto a Tayman through ball, before calmly passing the ball into the bottom corner. 4-0. Three minutes later White turned provider, bursting down the right before drilling a ball across the 6-yard box. Initially it eluded everyone, only to reach Emma Donohoe at the far post. With the angle a little tight, the wing-back unselfishly squared the ball into the path of Georgina Tayman, who lashed it into the roof of the net. 5-0
With Woodley now on the rack and the game already gone, the next goal came as a surprise. Three minutes after going five down, Woodley showed some spirit. Chloe Melton's perfectly weighted pass found Sarah Lawrence free on the left-hand side of the box. As Keira Maskell came off her line to narrow the angle, Lawrence expertly lifted a first-time effort over her and into the net. Great finish. 5-1
After four goals in just over ten minutes, the game slipped into a state of relative calm but then, in the 80th minute, Kaitlyn Crouch, back on the pitch after a first-half substitution, showed some really nifty close control in the box to engineer an angle. She then deftly rolled a precision shot in off the far post to make it 6-1.
Charley Evans, back on after recovering from her knock, then tried to set Woodley back on the road by launching a break from her own penalty area. He through ball found Lawrence, who lifted it over Oxford's substitute goalkeeper Grace Kazhir, on after Maskell picked up a knock, only to see the ball drop wide of the left-hand post.
In the 90th minute Bough-French delivered another free-kick deep into the Woodley penalty area. Novak-Allum stretched to claim it, high above her head, but let the ball slip, allowing Kaitlyn Crouch to bundle her second over the line. 7-1
City looking for more goals FT Oxford City 7 Woodley United 1. A big win for The Hoops which moves them into second place in the Premier League. City played some sumptuous football which, for a neutral, was a joy to watch at times. Their attacking options must be the envy of most teams in the league and when they get their passing right, as they did today, it is hard to stop them. Woodley battled hard and defended stoutly but, with a depleted squad that was worsened by an early injury to Alex Ayckbourn, they were always going to find this one very difficult. It was pleasing to see them score at least. No more than they deserved for plugging away.
City have a county cup tie next week as Thames Valley Division Two side Easington Sports come to the MGroup Stadium. Woodley are back in league action as they welcome Selsey to Bulmershe Pavilion. Woodley won the reverse fixture 3-0 in October. The closeness of the Premier League mid-table means that a win would put them just a point behind City, and depending on other results, back into third spot.
Oxford City: 1.Maskell, 11.Harris, 7.Pinner, 5.Bough-French, 15.Le Beau, 3.Donohoe, 18.O'Leary, 4.Tayman(c), 8.Bradley, 10.E.White, 12.Crouch. Subs: 13.Khazir, 16.Latimer, 9.Walecki, 14.L.White, 6.Lester
Woodley United: 1.Novak-Allum, 8.Griffiths, 4.Surtees(c), 2.Evans, 11.Haynes, 12.Ayckbourn, 15.Knapp, 7.Lawrence, 9.Melton, 10.Messitt, 6.Devlin. Subs: 5.Hudson, 14.Hobson
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 62
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
City have a county cup tie next week as Thames Valley Division Two side Easington Sports come to the MGroup Stadium. Woodley are back in league action as they welcome Selsey to Bulmershe Pavilion. Woodley won the reverse fixture 3-0 in October. The closeness of the Premier League mid-table means that a win would put them just a point behind City, and depending on other results, back into third spot.
Oxford City: 1.Maskell, 11.Harris, 7.Pinner, 5.Bough-French, 15.Le Beau, 3.Donohoe, 18.O'Leary, 4.Tayman(c), 8.Bradley, 10.E.White, 12.Crouch. Subs: 13.Khazir, 16.Latimer, 9.Walecki, 14.L.White, 6.Lester
Woodley United: 1.Novak-Allum, 8.Griffiths, 4.Surtees(c), 2.Evans, 11.Haynes, 12.Ayckbourn, 15.Knapp, 7.Lawrence, 9.Melton, 10.Messitt, 6.Devlin. Subs: 5.Hudson, 14.Hobson
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 62
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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