Leagues apart

At the end of 2009/10 season the oaks had played 20, won 8, lost 9 and drawn 3.

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After 20 games in 2010/11, we have won 8, lost 9 and drawn 3!

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An interesting difference is that we actually have an extra point; 27 compared with 26 last year. It is even more interesting that while Sharpy was to blame for losing us this point a year ago, he can also be credited with gaining the most recent point this season. You could say he's finally repaid his debt.

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So how do the tables suggest we have performed this year compared with last? Based on points per game we've done no better or worse that last year. Our current league position of 6th is one better than last year, but assuming Springhouse pass us and Laird don't win the majority of their remaining games (and we've still got to play them twice) 7th will again be our most likely finishing position.

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How about goals for and against? We've score 4 less goals this year, but more pleasing is the fact that we've conceded 11 less - so A* for the defenders and goalkeepers, and a must try harder for the attackers.

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We've said throughout the season that the league is much harder this year than it has been for a long time. The fact we've matched our results from last year whilst doing slightly better in goal difference (we would have finished 5th with a goal difference of -4 last year) means that if the league has got harder, we must have improved. This argument is strengthen by the fact that 2 of the three teams who played in this league with us last year (the Lakeside team of last year bears no resemblence to this year's team), Rec Rovers and Linford, finished 6th and 8th with 27 and 24 points respectively last season. However this year they have only managed 25 points between them this year although both have games left to improve their tally.

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Anyway, there are still 6 points up for grabs so there is still time to get that goal difference in the positive, and even maybe for Nathan to catch Sharpy in the race for the golden boot (Sharpy currently has three more with 10). However, I don't think anyone will be bettering Eye-Ball percentage increase in goals this season compared with last...

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Eye-Ball

Thameside 1 - 1 Oaks Athletic

Thanks to Parker for supplying the following report for what sounds like a game full of incidents.

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Milesy started this game at the Billet in Stanford having to shuffle his pack as two of the Oaks form players were not able to attend. Milly was carrying an injury from last week and goal machine Eyeball was at a stag do in Hereford, although personally I think that story is a load of BULL!! This left Oaks with the following line up.

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pppppppppppppppppTyrone (GK)
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ppDeano(RB) (c) Rob (CB) Nathan (CB) (c) Aaron (LB)
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Jordan (RM) Gollum (CM) Mikey (CM) Scott (LM)
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pppppppppppSharpy (CF) Nick (CF)

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Subs: Jimmy, Parker

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Oaks had lost to this opposition a few weeks ago but with Tyrone in goal and a rare sunny day at The Billet, they were confident of getting a result this time. In fact Tyrone was about to play a central role in the first half action, although the referee nearly beat him to the honours for the centre of attention prize!

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After receiving a passback, Ty suffered from a typical "BilletBounce" and the ball sliced across the area. The loose ball was taken up by the Thameside striker who thought he could not miss, although he did not bank on Ty commiting the worst professional foul ever by throwing himself across the strikers legs and then claiming he had fell over! At the resulting penalty Ty showed that although he may be lacking in subtleness (please excuse my spelling Eyeball!) he certainly is not lacking anything in shot stopping ability and superbly got down to save in the bottom corner. The next two incidents probably left Nofun, sorry Nathan wishing he was no longer the Oaks stand in centre back!

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Thameside played a long ball through that Nathan had time to clear but he heard Ty call for it, so left him to claim it. What neither of them banked on was the Thameside forward getting between them to claim the first goal. A few minutes later Nathan jumped up for a header in our box and the Thameside player never jumped leaving him knocked to the ground and the ref awarded another spot kick. A few players argued but when Deano agrees with the ref then surely there might have been a chance he got it right. To be honest as usual I was watching the game next to us so missed the incident! Although Thameside scored this penalty, the ref decided there had been encroachment and ordered a re-take, and for the second time in the match it was saved low in the corner by Ty to keep the score 1-0 at half time.

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Milesy put on Jimmy for an injured Gollum in midfield at the break and the second half started with me running the line in front of Thamesides bench. To be honest my memory of the second half is a bit hazy, this may or may not have something to do with their bench smelling like the England changing room during the Phil Tufnell era, who knows? What I can remember is Nick getting injured and Milesy putting me (Parker) on. At first I was excited at the prospect of going up front until Milesy then pushed Nathan up and put me at right back with Deano slotting in at centre back. Milesy then proved yet again what a great manager he is as the Oaks equalised not long after the substitution! The Oaks had a free kick just outside the box and Sharpy had a trick up his sleeve, well either that or a spare bag! Anyway he stepped up and smashed the ball against the Thameside defender. The rebound turned into a smart one-two which allowed Sharpy a much better and closer view of the goal and he made no mistake with the second attempt and finally Oaks had got back on level terms. The match finished with Scott and Jordan pushing down both flanks with Mikey and Jimmy controlling the centre of the park. Although we never got a winner, it did allow us at the back plenty of time to have a chat and do plenty of "watching"!

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The Oaks left the field happy that we had got a better result than last time against Thameside, but we also know that it could have been even better.

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Parker

Springhouse 1 - 1 Oaks Athletic

The Oaks picked up a deserved point after coming from behind against a Springhouse side who were missing a number of first team players (and had to play the first half with ten men). When you look at the overall balance of play, and the chances created you could argue that we should be disappointed to only come away with a point. However, the way we played the game and the general attitude of the players makes the extra two points irrelevant but losing the game would have been an injustice.

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With Rob away Milesy decided to pair Nathan with Milly at centre back, which was to prove an inspired move as Nathan was a colossus throughout the match, winning ball after ball in the air and showing good awareness to be first to the frequent through balls Springhouse attempted to play.

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pppppppppppppppppTyrone (GK)
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ppDeano(RB) Nathan(CB) (c) Milly (CB) Eye-Ball (LB)
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pppppppppppppGollum (CM)
Jordan (RM) ppppppppppppp Mikey (CM) Parker (LM)
ppppppppppppSharpy (CM)
ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppNick (CF)

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Subs: Jimmy, JP, Aaron

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The Oaks were unfortunate to find themselves behind in the first half, when Milly chased out following a set piece to meet the high bouncing ball and was harshly adjudged to have handled inside the area. The resulting penalty was calmly dispatched: 1-0.

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We were pleased to see that we had been assigned a good referee for this game, but on this occasion he was having a bit of an off day, as he denied the Oaks an almost immediate chance to level the scores. Nick was put clean through, and when he was brought down the ref was too quick to blow up when Nick had actually played on, rounded the keeper and put the ball into the back of the net. To be fair to the ref, he knew straight away that he had made a mistake, and was big enough to apologise. It was also testament to the general good attitude of the Oaks players during this game, who accepted the decision and simply got on with the game.

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The Oaks reverted back to 4-4-2 following the goal with Sharpy joining Nick up front, and we continued to try and play the ball around on the floor. However, we probably didn’t make best use of the extra time and space afforded by playing on a big pitch and against ten men, and could definitely make some improvements for the second half.

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Milly had been struggling during the first half (which was possibly connected to following Sharpy into the toilet before the game), and couldn’t come back out for the second half. This meant Deano (who had a narrow escape himself from Sharpy’s deadly ablutions) had to move to centre back, Parker to right back and JP came on to the left side of midfield.

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The Oaks created the first good chance of the second half when JP put through Nick on the left, who cut inside and unselfishly played the ball across goal to Sharpy rather than try and score himself from a difficult angle. Unluckily, with 90% of the goal gaping Sharpy hit the ball straight at the defender who had laid himself on the line.

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Despite it now being eleven versus eleven, the Oaks were looking the more dangerous of the two sides, and it was a credit to the way we were playing that for the second week running we had forced a good footballing side to resort to long balls over the top which we were dealing with well.

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It wasn’t long before the Oaks deservedly found an equaliser. Ty is always encouraging the full backs to take a gamble at the back post, and on this occasion the gamble paid off as free kick that was clipped into the box was flicked goal wards by Sharpy. The keeper made a good save, but could only parry the ball down where Eye-ball was on had to throw himself at the ball and head it into the empty net. It’s been strange season so far for Eye-Ball in which he has been sent off for the first time, and scored his first goal for the Oaks. That goal was a late added bonus, whereas this goal felt all the sweeter as it got the Oaks back in the points: 1-1.

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Soon after scoring the equaliser the Oaks almost took the lead: the ball feel awkwardly for Mikey in the area, who did superbly to bring the ball under control and make space to shot with his left foot. His good work unfortunately went unrewarded, as the ball flew agonisingly wide of the right hand post.

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The score remained at 1-1 for the remainder of the game, and all the Oaks players did their bit in gaining this point. The good work by the outfield players had kept Ty relatively quiet, although his directions and support were invaluable, and when he was called on to rush out to meet the ball with the Springhouse player bearing down he did well to block the effort and push the ball to safety. Parker also made an important (if possibly illegal) intervention to put off the opposition forward as he looked certain to head the ball into the goal. The referee seemed to agree that the contact was as a result of a clumsy fall rather than a deliberate push.

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If we continue to show the good team spirit and fight displayed today against Thameside next week we should have every chance of avenging the disappointing defeat suffered a few weeks ago.

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Eye-Ball

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Next game: Sunday 20^th March away v Thameside @ The Billet – 1030 K.O.

LTD 1 - 1 Oaks Athletic

It was pleasing to come away with a point in a game where the Oaks never really hit top gear, but battled hard and kept their heads whilst the opposition lost theirs, and despite having less of the possession, could argue they created the better chances. With our best player and captain missing through injury (although still present on the sideline to offer support and point out who needed kicking), we were always going to be less effective going forward, but we did have a boost with Scott making his first appearance in over a month. Ty also made a well timed return with Parker being unavailable. The Oaks longest serving player, Deano, was handed the captaincy but the arm-band was no where to be seen (strange that!).

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pppppppppppppppppTyrone (GK)
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ppDeano(RB) (c) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Eye-Ball (LB)
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Jordan (RM) Gollum (CM) Mikey (CM) Scott (LM)
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pppppppppppSharpy (CF) Nick (CF)

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Subs: Jimmy, JP

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The Oaks created some good chances to score in the first half, including a fine link up between Sharpy and Mikey with the former back-heeling the ball into the path of the latter, who had made a good overlapping run. Unfortunately the ball took a huge bobble as Mikey went to strike it inside the box, and skewed well wide.

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Nick then put in a perfect cross for Sharpy from the right, but Sharpy couldn’t direct the ball on target. Eye-Ball also played a great reverse pass to put Scott through on the left, only for the linesman’s flag to be raised.

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LTD are a good ball playing side, and displayed this for significant periods of the first half. However, they always seemed to opt for the ball over the top as the final pass, which the Oaks back four had more than enough pace and strength to deal with. We also sat off to avoid being caught out too high, but on the one occasion we did attempt to play the opposition forward offside – and according to Jimmy’s flag did so successfully – the LTD forward raced through to score. The referee decided the offside was for a player who was not interfering with play (without consulting his linesman), and the Oaks went into half time a goal down: 1-0.

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The second half continued much like the first, with LTD enjoying the larger share of the possession, but achieving little with it. Apart from claiming the odd high ball, Ty only had to make one save of note as he dived to his left to parry away a rasping shot from outside the area.

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The game changed when LTD had a man sent off for kicking out at Nick, who kept his head, and stayed on the pitch. It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that the Oaks really started to make the extra man count, as Scott took up a more central position. One particular move out near the right saw a number of passes exchanged, before Scott found himself space in the box, but couldn’t connect cleanly with his shot.

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By this time JP had come on for Jordan, and Jimmy replaced Gollum. Jimmy’s ability to break up the play in the middle gave Rob the opportunity to move further up the pitch as we searched for an equaliser, and this was to prove a decisive tactical change. Mikey won a free kick out on the right and when the keeper could only parry the ball into JP’s path a fine reaction save was all that denied him a headed goal. The Oaks packed the penalty area for the resulting corner, and when the ball was only half cleared Sharpy played it back into the danger area, and Rob beat the offside trap to poke the ball home. We were surprised not to see the flag go up, even if Rob had clearly not been offside, and the goal stood: 1-1.

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Despite the Oaks reverting back to 4-4-2, Nick nearly grabbed a late winner but his header from a tight angle was deflected away and the game finished 1-1.

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It was satisfying to pick up a point, and we were definitely the happy of the two sides as LTD would have expected to get more than one point from the six available from us. Although this performance was an improvement on the previous test, a much sterner test awaits against Springhouse next week but we gave them a good game the last time we met and there is no reason why we shouldn’t do so again.

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Eye-Ball

Oaks Athletic 2 - 3 Thameside

The recent run of tough matches and double headers against the top sides in the league seemed to have finally taken its toll, as a tired looking, heavy legged Oaks side slumped to defeat against a team who – if the league was anything to go by – should have been beaten. Thameside may have been a team we knew very little about, and although we have achieved better results against far better sides, they must be given credit for their energy and endless pressing and determination. This, plus an imbalance in the ‘rub of the green’ was the difference between the two sides, and although the Oaks had late chances to grab at least a point there can’t be too many complaints about the result.

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pppppppppppppppppParker (GK)
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ppDeano(RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Eye-Ball (LB)
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Jordan (RM) Gollum (CM) Mikey (CM) Aaron (LM)
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pppppppppppNathan (CF) (c) Nick (CF)

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Subs: Sharpy, JP

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Mikey scored his second goal in two games to give the Oaks the lead in the first half. A long throw into the box, from Nathan on the right, was flicked on by Aaron and Mikey was well positioned and displayed excellent technique to volley the ball past the keeper and into the net: 1-0.

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The score stayed at 1-0 to half time, but the warning signs were there as the Oaks struggled for much of the half to keep possession and allowed the opposition far too much time and space on the ball. Milesy made his concerns clear at half time: Thameside were going to chase everything, and if we couldn’t raise our energy levels to match them we would be in trouble.

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An early scare in the second half was nullified thanks to a fine save from Parker after anuncharacteristic air kick from Milly that put the striker through on goal. This warning still didn’t wake us up, and we were punished when a Thameside player was not closed down fast enough and unleashed a clean strike from 35 yards that flew into the top corner. He’ll probably never hit the ball like that again, but it can’t be said Thameside didn’t deserve their goal: 1-1.

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The Oaks had a chance to make an immediate response when Nathan surged into the penalty area and was brought down (well, he went to ground anyway). Despite our regular penalty taker (Sharpy) now being on the pitch, as captain and winner of the penalty Nathan stepped up to the spot. His shot to the keeper’s right was unstoppable except for the intervention of the post, and the rebound was scrambled to safety.

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Thameside then took the lead when a combination of hesitation and lack of communication saw a long throw into the box land at the feet of the Thameside striker, who had the simple job of prodding the ball into the net: 1-2.

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An Oaks side who were noticeably lethargic, where now also in a state of shock, and were soon further behind when a firm cross into a crowded area was headed passed his own keeper by Rob: 1-3.

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The two goal deficit finally spurred the Oaks into life with 15 minutes to go and we started to press, commit more men forward and create chances. One of the best chances fell to Aaron, after Eye-ball ran to the near post to flick on a throw-in from Nathan, but Aaron could only kick the ball over the bar from 6 yards.

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The deficit was reduced to one goal when a high ball following a corner was won by Eye-Ball and headed back to Nathan on the right. His low cross into the box was steered into the net by a Thameside player for the second own goal of the game: 2-3.

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The Oaks continued the assault on the Thameside goal, but despite goal bound efforts from a number of corners, we couldn’t force the ball into the net and the game ended 2-3.

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With the majority of Oaks players looking dejected, Deano felt almost embarrassed to say that despite the defeat he had actually really enjoyed the game. It had been his first 90 outfield minutes for a long time after spending a lot of time on the sideline (mainly) through injury, and he was the stand out player in this match. Far from being an embarrassing comment, this is actually something we should all think carefully about. It’s nice to win, but most important is enjoying playing (otherwise there isn’t much point getting up on a Sunday). This means brushing disappointing defeats aside, supporting and encouraging each other and accepting that we are all doing the best we can. On some days our best will be worse than on others, and on this day we probably underestimated our opposition and were subsequently caught out. However, anyone who has played with the Oaks for any length of time will know that this isn’t the last time we’ll lose a game we think we should have won, and there will be plenty of occasions to come when we will get points when most would have written us off.

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Keep your heads up!

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Eye-Ball