Oaks Athletic 2 - 1 & 4 - 1 -v- Asda Tilbury (Double Header)

There were no freak weather conditions to affect today’s matches, and this double header against Asda Tilbury gave The Oaks an opportunity to earn six much needed points. However, Asda are not the whipping boys they once were – as displayed by their good mid-table league position – and therefore The Oaks would need to battle hard and fight for every ball if they were to get maximum points from these two 60 minute matches.

Due to my absence these reports will be short and sweet, and thanks to Parker for providing the vital information. These double headers are definitely a squad game and super tanned Milesy (I assume he must be after spending two weeks in the Dominican Republic – avoiding the snow!), had 14 players to choose from. The line-up for the first game was as follows:

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNParker (GK)

pppDeano (RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Stu (LB) (c)

pNathan (RM) Gollum (CM) Jimmy (CM) Bill (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Sharpy (CF)

subs: Neil, Jamie, Aaron

Stat of the week: I could be wrong, but I do believe this if the first time Milesy has selected the same team, in the same formation, for two consecutive matches!

Rumour has it that some football was played in the first half, with both sides kicking the quasi-spherical leather object towards the opposition's goal. However neither side managed to merge object and net, and the score at half-time was 0-0.

Milesy rung the changes for the second half with Parker paying the price for not scoring by being replaced in goal by Neil (you really should try harder Parker!). Aaron replaced Bill and Jamie came on for Gollum.

The second half saw Robo-Rob requiring treatment for a cut above his eye. The “slap some Vaseline on it” treatment worked a treat, and he was able to continue.

Robo-Rob - It takes more than a slight flesh wound to keep down this warrior

Things did not look good when The Oaks went behind after a long range free-kick from Asda evaded Neil and ended up in the back of the net. 1-0 to Asda.

The Oaks were not prepared to give up without a fight, and started to pile on the pressure. The equaliser didn’t come until injury time, when The Oaks won a corner. Deano has looked like our most dangerous player from corners in recent weeks, and he finally got the goal he deserved when he headed home from close range. 1-1.

I have received a quote straight from Milesy, who says that “we should have won both games by a lot more; we were really good”. I can therefore only assume that justice was done when, before the full-time whistle, another corner from Nathan was met by a bullet header from Sharpy, and the Oaks had won 2-1!

Oaks Athletic 4 -1 Asda Tilbury

I imagine that Asda must have been devastated to have lost via two injury time goals, and would have wanted nothing less than to have to go on for another 60 minutes. On the contrary The Oaks were on a high, and took the momentum of the victory into the second match. Milesy again made good use of the versatile squad at his disposal to put out the following team:


ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

pppDeano (RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Stu (LB) (c)

pNathan (RM) Gollum (CM) Sharpy (CM) Aaron (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Jamie (CF)

subs: Parker, Bill, Jimmy

Deano again stole the show as he put the Oaks in front with another header. Apparently he hadn’t learnt his lesson after having his clothes stolen a couple of weeks ago, and promptly dropped his shorts claiming someone had spat on them! There is no photographic evidence to support this claim, but below is an artist’s impression from an eye-witness account:

If Deano is really a stick man he wouldn't wear shorts anyway; so what's all the fuss about!

Jamie very rarely fails to get on the score sheet, and today was no exception as he pounced on a parried shot/cross to put the oaks 2-0 up. The fact that The Oaks maintained their two goal advantage going into half time was helped by a great save from Neil to deny the Asda striker. It also meant that both Neil and Parker can claim a clean sheet for their day’s work.

Milesy ensured everyone got at least an hour of football by bringing on Parker (for Neil), Bill (for Aaron) and Jimmy (for Sharpy) for the second half.

Deano was again involved in a key moment in the game, as his handball in the area handed Asda a lifeline, which they duly took to make the score 2-1.

The nerves were settled a bit when a long kick upfield from Parker was headed on by Nathan to Al, who lashed the bouncing ball past the Asda trolley (I mean keeper of course), who could only stand and watch.

Al was obviously looking to take advantage of the fact that the Oaks top scorer was watching from the sideline when he doubled his tally with a neat finish following some good link up play between Nathan and Bill. 4-1 to the Oaks.

This rounded off a great day at the office for the Oaks; 6 points in the bag at a vital part of the season. Well done lads and I’ll see you next week.

Eye-Ball

Next Match: Sunday 22nd Feb v Concept B @ Home – 10:30 K.O.

Goal Scoring Chart