Oaks Athletic 2 - 1 Linford Wanderers

Finally, after 7 weeks of frost, snow and the coldest December since records began, we were able to play a game of football against our last opponents way back on 14^th November. The Oaks won that game 4-0, but everyone knew this would be a totally different affair, with concerns over match fitness, and the ability of some of us to remember what “football” is being evident. Added to this was the absence of key players in Mikey and Milly (both flu victims), and also Gollum who pulled up lame in the warm up (fortunately we don’t need to put him down just yet).

Nethertheless, it is a testament to the commitment of the Oaks players that Milesy still had 14 players to choose from and went with the following line up:

pppppppppppppppppTyrone (GK)

ppEye-Ball (RB) Rob (CB) Deano (CB) Alex (LB)

Nathan (RM) (c) Jimmy (CM) Jordan (CM) Scott (LM)

pppppppppppSharpy (CF) Nick (CF)

Subs: Parker, Aaron, Aaron (2)

All the goals (but by no means all the action) came in the first half which was a typically hard fought affair. The Oaks may have been a bit rusty, but had lost none of the confidence gained from the previous victory, as they looked to pass the ball to feet and create space for each other. Consequently some good chances to take the lead were created, including a free kick from Nathan that was tipped over by the diving Linford keeper, and a left foot volley from Scott after his run into the box was expertly spotted by Sharpy. Nick was also unfortunate to see a firmly struck header from a free kick cleared off the line.

There was also plenty of defending to do, with bodies (quite literally in Rob’s case) being thrown in front of the ball, and Ty making a fine save to divert a shot onto the post.

Despite the Oaks early pressure, it was Linford who took the lead when a close decision for offside went their way, and the forward poked the ball past Ty after receiving a cross from the right: 0-1.

This setback didn’t seem to faze the Oaks, who continued to apply pressure, and were soon back on level terms thanks to some quick thinking from Rob and good link up play between the front two. Noticing the opposition were slow to retreat following the award of a goal kick, Rob played the ball quickly up field where Nick was on hand to flick the ball on with his head into the path of Sharpy, who beat the off-side trap and netted past the keeper off the inside of the post: 1-1.

Given how well Sharpy had finished this effort, we all expected him to make the score 2-1 when he was again put clean through, but his left foot shot across the keeper lacked any curl and drifted wide of the left upright.

Sharpy was able to shrug off the disappointment of this miss to give the Oaks the lead at half time, with Rob once again being heavily involved. Linford failed to clear a corner, and Rob held off and turned his man before floating the ball to the back post where Sharpy was on hand to nod the ball down into the net: 2-1.

Linford really came at us in the second half, but defensively we held firm with Jimmy and Jordan especially putting in an impressive shift in the middle of the park. Defensively we were relatively untroubled, and when called upon Ty was able to rebel anything Linford could throw at him, including a firmly struck low shot to his left which he got down to well and flick round the post.

Nick and Sharpy continued to toil away up top against Linford’s impressive centre halves, and Scott and Nathan looked to exploit the weaknesses at full back. Some good chances to put the game beyond doubt were created but unfortunately no further goals were scored. Sharpy could have had at least two more goals after first being put through by Jordan, and then by Nathan but both his efforts sailed high and wide of the target. Alex even got in on the action from left back with a rasping shot that wasn’t far wide.

There were some late jitters as Rob was inexplicably asked to leave the field after taking an elbow in the mouth (where is the justice in us going down to 10 men after our man has be fouled?), but we held out for a hard fought and well deserved 3 points.

Eye-Ball