Raffy Rice about to glance a header against the Park post It was game night in Group B of the Henry Hawtin Cup last night. Table-toppers Stonesfield, ahead of Chadlington on goal difference, were taking on third-placed Longford Park, a point behind the leaders. With all teams having played two games and only a single point separating the top four, this was a crunch game in the battle for a top two finish and a place in the semi-finals. The Longford Park Henry Hawtin squad is, I am led to believe, predominantly made up of the Dev team who, coincidentally, be playing the home matches at Enstone next season. So, this was effectively a home game for them despite being listed as the away team.
Stonesfield looked to be very aware that a win would almost guarantee a spot in the semi-finals and, kicking down the slope, they set about their opponents with some vigour. Marshalled at the back by captain Jordan Newman and driven on by the very lively centre-midfielder Jack Newman, Stones quickly took control.
Stonesfield took the lead in the 9th minute when a cross from the right was inadvertently flicked on by Logan Mitchell into the path of Raffy Rice, who met the ball first time, guiding a controlled side-foot effort into the far corner from the edger of the box. Classy finish. 1-0
Stonesfield continued to press forward and generated several more good chances in the following twenty minutes, not least when Rice almost got his second, glancing a left-wing corner across goal and back off the post.
Longford Park had little in response, struggling to find any cohesion and constantly under threat from the passing quality of their opponents.
Sure enough, just past the half-hour mark, Stonesfield doubled their lead, and it was a quality move that created the goal. A passage of one touch passing took them from defence to attack, the ball ending at the feet of Jack Newman. His low, fizzing strike was parried by Elliot May but only as far as Liam Harris who put the loose ball into the far corner. 2-0
At 2-0 Stonesfield would have felt comfortable but could also have been further ahead. Longford would have been relatively happy to go in two goals down at the break. However, even that was not to be. Into injury time Stonesfield launched a long ball deep into Longford territory. May began to come off his line but an attempted defensive clearance sent the ball looping over him, bouncing into the net before anyone could get a touch. 3-0
HT Stonesfield 3 Longford Park 0. A very good display from Stonesfield, who knocked the ball about with plenty of confidence and could easily have been further ahead. A mountain to climb for Longford Park who, at least had the slope in their favour for the second half
Stonesfield looked to be very aware that a win would almost guarantee a spot in the semi-finals and, kicking down the slope, they set about their opponents with some vigour. Marshalled at the back by captain Jordan Newman and driven on by the very lively centre-midfielder Jack Newman, Stones quickly took control.
Stonesfield took the lead in the 9th minute when a cross from the right was inadvertently flicked on by Logan Mitchell into the path of Raffy Rice, who met the ball first time, guiding a controlled side-foot effort into the far corner from the edger of the box. Classy finish. 1-0
Stonesfield continued to press forward and generated several more good chances in the following twenty minutes, not least when Rice almost got his second, glancing a left-wing corner across goal and back off the post.
Longford Park had little in response, struggling to find any cohesion and constantly under threat from the passing quality of their opponents.
Sure enough, just past the half-hour mark, Stonesfield doubled their lead, and it was a quality move that created the goal. A passage of one touch passing took them from defence to attack, the ball ending at the feet of Jack Newman. His low, fizzing strike was parried by Elliot May but only as far as Liam Harris who put the loose ball into the far corner. 2-0
At 2-0 Stonesfield would have felt comfortable but could also have been further ahead. Longford would have been relatively happy to go in two goals down at the break. However, even that was not to be. Into injury time Stonesfield launched a long ball deep into Longford territory. May began to come off his line but an attempted defensive clearance sent the ball looping over him, bouncing into the net before anyone could get a touch. 3-0
HT Stonesfield 3 Longford Park 0. A very good display from Stonesfield, who knocked the ball about with plenty of confidence and could easily have been further ahead. A mountain to climb for Longford Park who, at least had the slope in their favour for the second half
Jack Medham(19) sees his free-kick pushed over The second half was an all-together different game to the opening 45 minutes. A more determined Longford Park side were clearly under orders to tighten the game up. Stonesfield, meanwhile, were confident that the points were in the bag and were not some fluid in the attack. Having said that, Stonesfield remained the more likely to get another goal and were still commanding the lion's share of possession.
Ten minutes into the half Langford did finally give Mike Phipps something to do when he pushed Jack Medham's well struck free-kick over the bar.
Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Longfo0rd finally broke down the Stonesfield back-line with a through ball that saw Dan Mundy break free. One on one with Phipps, the striker calmly rolled the ball home. 3-1
The goal inspired Longford to look for another but, in all fairness, Stonesfield never appeared unduly concerned, even after conceding.
FT Stonesfield 3 Longford Park 1. A relatively comfortable three points for Stonesfield that leaves them three clear at the top of the Group B table. A point in their final game versus Ducklington would confirm their place in the semis. Longford aren't mathematically out of the running, but they need to beat Chadlington in the final game and hope that other results go their way. This evening Ducklington take on Spartan Rangers, knowing a win would put them into second spot.
Take a look at the group tables, results and remaining fixtures
Stonesfield: 1.Phipps, 2.Kemp, 3.Harris, 4.Wynn, 5.Jordan Newman(c), 6.D.Newman, 14.Hart, 10.R.Rice, 9.C.Rice, 7.Johnson, 11.Mitchell, 12.Jack Newman, 17.Oliver, 15.Barker, Connolly
Longford Park: 13.May, 2.Moon, 6.Lally, 5.S.Green, 7.Williams, 8.J.Green, 19.Medham, 11.Millar, 17.Walsh, 10.E.Green, 9.Mundy, 20.Lennon, Roy, 3.Coles, 15. Cunnold
Ten minutes into the half Langford did finally give Mike Phipps something to do when he pushed Jack Medham's well struck free-kick over the bar.
Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Longfo0rd finally broke down the Stonesfield back-line with a through ball that saw Dan Mundy break free. One on one with Phipps, the striker calmly rolled the ball home. 3-1
The goal inspired Longford to look for another but, in all fairness, Stonesfield never appeared unduly concerned, even after conceding.
FT Stonesfield 3 Longford Park 1. A relatively comfortable three points for Stonesfield that leaves them three clear at the top of the Group B table. A point in their final game versus Ducklington would confirm their place in the semis. Longford aren't mathematically out of the running, but they need to beat Chadlington in the final game and hope that other results go their way. This evening Ducklington take on Spartan Rangers, knowing a win would put them into second spot.
Take a look at the group tables, results and remaining fixtures
Stonesfield: 1.Phipps, 2.Kemp, 3.Harris, 4.Wynn, 5.Jordan Newman(c), 6.D.Newman, 14.Hart, 10.R.Rice, 9.C.Rice, 7.Johnson, 11.Mitchell, 12.Jack Newman, 17.Oliver, 15.Barker, Connolly
Longford Park: 13.May, 2.Moon, 6.Lally, 5.S.Green, 7.Williams, 8.J.Green, 19.Medham, 11.Millar, 17.Walsh, 10.E.Green, 9.Mundy, 20.Lennon, Roy, 3.Coles, 15. Cunnold
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