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.