Needing to stay local on Tuesday evening, I was very pleased to see that there was a local Oxfordshire derby on the schedule. With under eight miles between the grounds, the villages of North Leigh and Kidlington are certainly very local rivals. They've also spent a fair few of recent years in the same division. This would be the eighth time in the last nine season that they had faced each other in the league. Last season both were relegated from step 4, finishing in the bottom two of The Southern League Division One Central.
Recent games between the sides have resulted in some late winners and, generally, spoils shared across the season. Last term both games ended in away wins with North Leigh winning at Yarnton Road thanks to two Samuel Olawale goals, the winner coming in the 93rd minute. Kidlington won the game at Eynsham park by three goals to one. In the 23/24 campaign both games ended in home wins. Two more late goals saw Kidlington triumph 4-2 whilst North Leigh won the reverse fixture 3-0. They didn't meet in 22/23 because North Leigh spent one season in the Premier League. In their promotion season, 21/22, they were 7-0 winners at home, thanks to four goals from Conor McDonough. The game in Kidlington ended 1-1 but The Greens did gain some local pride by knocking North Leigh out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Eynsham Park.
This season has seen a mixed start from Kidlington and a sluggish one from North Leigh. The Millers lost their opening two league games and went out of the FA Cup at home to Risborough Rangers. However, last time out, they came back from two goals behind to earn a 3-3 draw at Milton United. Kidlington's start saw them beat Milton at home before they went out of the FA Cup in a replay at Clevedon Town. They also lost away at Burnham and, last weekend, drew 2-2 at home to Hilltop. All that meant that North Leigh started the evening above the drop zone on goal difference whilst Kidlington sat in mid-table.
Recent games between the sides have resulted in some late winners and, generally, spoils shared across the season. Last term both games ended in away wins with North Leigh winning at Yarnton Road thanks to two Samuel Olawale goals, the winner coming in the 93rd minute. Kidlington won the game at Eynsham park by three goals to one. In the 23/24 campaign both games ended in home wins. Two more late goals saw Kidlington triumph 4-2 whilst North Leigh won the reverse fixture 3-0. They didn't meet in 22/23 because North Leigh spent one season in the Premier League. In their promotion season, 21/22, they were 7-0 winners at home, thanks to four goals from Conor McDonough. The game in Kidlington ended 1-1 but The Greens did gain some local pride by knocking North Leigh out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Eynsham Park.
This season has seen a mixed start from Kidlington and a sluggish one from North Leigh. The Millers lost their opening two league games and went out of the FA Cup at home to Risborough Rangers. However, last time out, they came back from two goals behind to earn a 3-3 draw at Milton United. Kidlington's start saw them beat Milton at home before they went out of the FA Cup in a replay at Clevedon Town. They also lost away at Burnham and, last weekend, drew 2-2 at home to Hilltop. All that meant that North Leigh started the evening above the drop zone on goal difference whilst Kidlington sat in mid-table.
Kidlington, in their change kit of red and white stripes, were kicking towards the clubhouse end in the first half, but didn't let the considerable slope at Eynsham park cause them a problem. Whilst not dominating what was a scrappy start to the game, they had the hosts on the back foot frequently, and didn't look to be in any danger in their own half. An early change for North Leigh didn't help their cause, Joe Smart leaving the pitch after an early injury.
Kidlington came close to opening the scoring a couple of times in the first 15 minutes. Latham Hawkins climb high to head a corner narrowly wide and they had the ball in the net at one point, but the referee had already blown for a foul on a defender when the original cross came in.
The Greens in red did, however, take the lead on 22 minutes. A ball played into the six yard box was just about pushed away by North Leigh goalkeeper Drew Brei, under pressure from Kauan Oliveira and, when a clearance was attempted by a defender the ball found its way to Dani Lucas who powered a strike beyond everyone into the corner of the net. 0-1.
It took some time for North Leigh to generate a response to going behind, but they did manage to give the visitors a coupe of slight scares late on in the half. Last season's tormentor, Samuel Olawale, had the first attempt but his strike wide of the mark. They came even closer with six minutes remaining when Louis Mathias took aim for Barnett's bottom right corner, only missing by a matter of inches with the keeper beaten.
HT North Leigh 0 Kidlington 1. Greens (Reds) on top but, with only a goal in it, they can't afford to relax. One or two niggles were starting to creep in towards the end of the half. The referee needs to keep a lid on things to prevent it getting out of hand.
Kidlington came close to opening the scoring a couple of times in the first 15 minutes. Latham Hawkins climb high to head a corner narrowly wide and they had the ball in the net at one point, but the referee had already blown for a foul on a defender when the original cross came in.
The Greens in red did, however, take the lead on 22 minutes. A ball played into the six yard box was just about pushed away by North Leigh goalkeeper Drew Brei, under pressure from Kauan Oliveira and, when a clearance was attempted by a defender the ball found its way to Dani Lucas who powered a strike beyond everyone into the corner of the net. 0-1.
It took some time for North Leigh to generate a response to going behind, but they did manage to give the visitors a coupe of slight scares late on in the half. Last season's tormentor, Samuel Olawale, had the first attempt but his strike wide of the mark. They came even closer with six minutes remaining when Louis Mathias took aim for Barnett's bottom right corner, only missing by a matter of inches with the keeper beaten.
HT North Leigh 0 Kidlington 1. Greens (Reds) on top but, with only a goal in it, they can't afford to relax. One or two niggles were starting to creep in towards the end of the half. The referee needs to keep a lid on things to prevent it getting out of hand.
Any thoughts North Leigh had of getting anything out of the game were completely shot down within 11 minutes of the restart. On 54 minutes, Kidlington won a corner on the right, which was delivered into the centre of goal where Kauan Oliveira met it with a deft header to make it 0-2. If that was not enough, Kidlington surprised everyone by adding a third just two minutes later, Fraser Allen providing the finish. 0-3.
So, with more than half an hour remaining, it looked a safe bet that the points would be heading back to Yarnton Road and, just past the hour it could have got a lot worse for the hosts. Drew Brei raced off his line and, from a distance, appeared to take out Oliveira when he was clean through on goal. From my vantage point, it looked a bad one, but the referee only saw it as a yellow when it could easily have been red for denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
A few minutes after that, with North Leigh finally showing more attacking intent, Louis Mathias did get the ball in the Kidlington net, but the assistant's flag was up well before it went in. It was a very tight decision and could easily have gone either way.
Ten minutes later, however, the hosts did manage to get on the scoresheet. A free-kick was delivered into the Kidlington box. Charlie Barnett pushed the ball up away from immediate danger, under some pressure. However, Jack Hobbs was on hand to head the ball back towards goal and, despite a defender on the line getting a head on it, the ball went in off the underside of the bar. 1-3
Another goal for North Leigh at this point would have set up a grandstand finish. However, the Kidlington defence stood firm, despite picking up a couple more yellow cards in the process.
FT North Leigh 1 Kidlington 3. A solid performance from Kidlington in a typical local derby encounter. Neither team set the world alight with their overall pay, but Kidlington did more than enough to win the game. The three points lifts The Greens into the play-off spots and just two point below Windsor & Eton and Burnham, who occupy first and second, albeit having play one game fewer. North Leigh drop into the relegation zone on goal difference behind Virginia Water and Reading City, who both also have a game in hand.
Next up for North Leigh is a trip to Division One leaders Bedfont in the FA Vase on Saturday. Kidlington are also in Vase action as they welcome anther Division One side, Oxhey Jets, to Yarnton Road.
North Leigh: Brei, Smart, Maxwell, Rushton, Hobbs, Neale(c), Sapwell, Mathias, Olawale, Osbourne-Ricketts, Githua. Subs: Masumbuko, Oppong, Biague, Amadiah, Abdalla
Kidlington: Barnett, Smith, Ulas, Firkin, Hawkins(c), King, Lucas, Seppard, Oliveira, Gabbidon, Allen. Subs: Aust, Marsh, Clarke, Deabill
The Programme
The Millers matchday programme is a full-colour, glossy, 16-page magazine. Aside from the usual welcome message and squad lists, the programme also features in depth articles detailing the history of both North Leigh and this evening's visitors from Kidlington as well as a couple of pages of recent match photographs courtesy of Lentons Photography.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 150
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: £1.00
So, with more than half an hour remaining, it looked a safe bet that the points would be heading back to Yarnton Road and, just past the hour it could have got a lot worse for the hosts. Drew Brei raced off his line and, from a distance, appeared to take out Oliveira when he was clean through on goal. From my vantage point, it looked a bad one, but the referee only saw it as a yellow when it could easily have been red for denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
A few minutes after that, with North Leigh finally showing more attacking intent, Louis Mathias did get the ball in the Kidlington net, but the assistant's flag was up well before it went in. It was a very tight decision and could easily have gone either way.
Ten minutes later, however, the hosts did manage to get on the scoresheet. A free-kick was delivered into the Kidlington box. Charlie Barnett pushed the ball up away from immediate danger, under some pressure. However, Jack Hobbs was on hand to head the ball back towards goal and, despite a defender on the line getting a head on it, the ball went in off the underside of the bar. 1-3
Another goal for North Leigh at this point would have set up a grandstand finish. However, the Kidlington defence stood firm, despite picking up a couple more yellow cards in the process.
FT North Leigh 1 Kidlington 3. A solid performance from Kidlington in a typical local derby encounter. Neither team set the world alight with their overall pay, but Kidlington did more than enough to win the game. The three points lifts The Greens into the play-off spots and just two point below Windsor & Eton and Burnham, who occupy first and second, albeit having play one game fewer. North Leigh drop into the relegation zone on goal difference behind Virginia Water and Reading City, who both also have a game in hand.
Next up for North Leigh is a trip to Division One leaders Bedfont in the FA Vase on Saturday. Kidlington are also in Vase action as they welcome anther Division One side, Oxhey Jets, to Yarnton Road.
North Leigh: Brei, Smart, Maxwell, Rushton, Hobbs, Neale(c), Sapwell, Mathias, Olawale, Osbourne-Ricketts, Githua. Subs: Masumbuko, Oppong, Biague, Amadiah, Abdalla
Kidlington: Barnett, Smith, Ulas, Firkin, Hawkins(c), King, Lucas, Seppard, Oliveira, Gabbidon, Allen. Subs: Aust, Marsh, Clarke, Deabill
The Programme
The Millers matchday programme is a full-colour, glossy, 16-page magazine. Aside from the usual welcome message and squad lists, the programme also features in depth articles detailing the history of both North Leigh and this evening's visitors from Kidlington as well as a couple of pages of recent match photographs courtesy of Lentons Photography.
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 150
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: £1.00
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