The Oaks have now been top of the league for approximately 3 months, despite only playing 4 league games in that time and playing fixture catch up (currently 3 games less played than second place). Results and scheduling have meant that none of our rivals have taken advantage of their opportunities to try out the view from the top, and this week with none of the teams closest to us playing, a point actually opened up a point gap. Anything less than a win next week could see us slip off top, which should give an extra incentive to give our all.
With band duty once again keeping me from the action (I promise that is it now), I'm grateful to my deputy reporter for providing the following comprehensive account of events.
Line up:
ppppppppppppppppTy
Deano (c)ppppppRobppppNikippppBrowne
NathanppppppMikey BpppppTapsellppppppRyan
ppppppppppNickppppHarry
subs: Joe, Sharpy, Bunny, Luke, Al
A rare occasion with no wind and a mild climate made for excellent conditions for a game of football.
The game got underway and right from the off it was apparent that Beauchamps had a bit of quality about them. They had lined up 4-5-1 and the extra man in midfield was allowing them to control possesion with the Oaks on the back foot.
The first goal came about 10 minutes in when a Beauchamps player burst past Mikey, who couldn't risk a tackle in the box, and fired low into the far corner: 0-1
It didn't take long for the Oaks to respond, all be it a little fortuitously. A free kick on the right was crossed into the box by Nathan, the Beauchamps Keeper flapped and the ball bounced off Taps and into the net, certainly his goal but he knew little about it: 1-1.
Then just a few minutes later the Oaks were at it again when good work from Mikey to win a throw close to the corner flag allowed Nathan the opportunity to launch another Rory Delap special. The ball played a game of pinball in the box, finally hitting the BFJ, rebounding onto the post and back into his path where he finished from a mere matter of milimetres: 2-1.
While we had turned the score around, we were all aware that this one was a long way from being won. However, the Oaks began to create some excellent chances catching Beauchamps on the break on numerous occasions, where an aging defence were finding it hard to cope with the pace of Ryan and Harry. Both would be presented with good opportunities, Ryan was put in on goal by Taps but dragged his shot wide and Harry had a great chance with a 1 on 1 where he decided to use his head rather than letting the ball come down which seemed the easier option. The header flew agonisingly over the bar.
The Oaks were left to rue a host of missed chances when Beauchamps won a corner and a delivery was met at the near post by a Blue shirt powering a header past Ty who stood no chance: 2-2.
The half time whistle blew with the scores tied at 2-2.
The Oaks, who were definitely below par in the first half, came out looking to improve. However, things only got worse when shortly into the 2nd half poor defending (something that is not associated with the Oaks, certainly in my time at the club) was to gift Beauchamps the lead. A long kick from the Beauchamps goalkeeper was allowed to bounce (something that happened far too often in this game), the ball ran through and the very handy centre forward had a fairly simple task of touching the ball past Ty: 2-3.
Beauchamps continued to dominate possesion but as has become the norm with the Oaks this season, we didnt lie down and a good attack resulted in the ball being rebounded across the box. Ryan ran in and always looked favourite to get there first against 2 Beauchamp defenders, he duly arrived on cue and was taken down for a clear cut penalty. The BFJ stepped up and smashed home another unstoppable pen into the top right corner: 3-3.
The next incident of note would come just minutes later when Beauchamps themselves were given a Penalty. Taps so often the Hero on many an occasion this season turned the villain when his mistimed lunge gifted Beauchamps the chance to once again take the lead. There were few complaints from the Oaks players, and even if the Ref hadn't given it, our own Lino Al seemed eager to take his linesman duties seriously for what he also deemed a stone wall pen! Cheers AL!
However unlike the BFJ the Beauchamps player stepped up and blazed his penalty high and wide, missing in a manner only matched by Charlie Adam in this weeks Carling cup final.
Milesy seemed to take this as a cue to change the system; off came the BFJ and on came Ash with the Oaks changing to a 4-5-1 formation matching that of the opposition. This certainly evened things up in the midfield (not that i'm biased after chasing the ball around for much of the game!)
Despite this Beauchamps didn't take long to make up for the penalty miss when an excellent run from the Beauchamps winger - who had caused numerous problems throughout the game - saw him beat 2 defenders and whilst Mikey got back to cover, the shot lashed through his legs rising high into the roof of the net: 3-4.
Despite going behind for the 3rd time in the game, the Oaks again responded well, beginning to push the opposition onto the back foot in search of an equaliser. They thought they had it when excellent work from Ryan down the left resulted in him putting across an excellent ball for Nathan to rise totally unmarked and head the ball past the Keeper. Unfortunately it rebounded off the post and into the keeper's hands!
The Oaks continued in search of the equaliser and another long throw from Nathan saw Robbie head the ball against the bar, Beauchamps cleared and we were beginning to wonder if it would be our day.
This prompted our final change with Sharpy coming on to replace Mikey and the Oaks moving back to their usual 4-4-2.
With around 10 minutes to go the Oaks finally got the equaliser: they had won countless corners throughout the game and Ryan's delivery had been good, on this occasion it was a great ball in and Robbie rose to head home: 4-4.
The final 10 minutes could of seen the game go either way; Beauchamps were certainly pushing for the win, at times leaving Harry totally unmarked on the half way line with a clear run on goal, unfortuantely he was caught offside a good 3 times with excellent chances to get him in on goal. From my position now as a spectator on one of these occasions he seemed to have timed his run well, the Beauchamp Lino seemed to disagree ( who knew! ) If only H would realise that he can give himself a couple of yards on these olds boys as their chances of catching him don't improve much!
As the game edged towards a draw, The Oaks would get one more good chance to find the winner. H not for the first time found himself in on goal, however the defender did well to get back and his shot was blocked, the ball though rebounded at his feet, he laid if off to Sharpy on the left who went for placement rather than power, his shot just a bit too close to the uninspiring Beauchamps keeper was saved and the chance to win the game was gone. There was still time for Beauchamps to mount one last attack which resulted in a good header that from where I was stood looked bound for Ty's bottom right corner, however he got across to make an excellent save and the game finished 4-4.
A game we could just as easily won as lost, ultimately viewed as a decent point.
Mikey B
Next game: Sunday 4 March Away @ Blackshots v Beauchamps Rovers - 1030 KO
Goal Scoring Chart:
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