With Socketts Heath and Wilburn winning, our three points mean we now need just 7 from the remaining 6 games to guarantee no other team can catch us. The graph suggests that if we win our next three games the league will be wrapped up with 3 games remaining. However, this is based on any other team winning all their games. Even simply a win against Socketts next week could leave us needing just one point if Wilburn slip up against Tilbury.
This game started with a team photo in glorious sunshine, that was a contrast to the heavy fog that had greeted us on our previous trip to the Billet. The shot was for the match day cup final programme that is now just over a week ago, but rather than publish it here I’ll give you the treat of seeing it first hand on the day. With the photo out of the way Milesy assembled a familiar looking team for battle, with just one change with Ash replacing the injured Mikey in the centre of midfield. Browne wasn't available having broken his ankle in comical fashion at Palmer's on the previous Monday, but must be given credit for still hopping over to watch.
ppppppppppppppppTy
Deano (c)ppppppRobppppNikippppEye-Ball
NathanppppppBunnypppppTapsellppppppRyan
ppppppppppNickppppHarry
subs: Sharpy, Luke, Al
After last week we thought the Oaks might have shaken of their tag of being slow starters, but old habits die hard and the first 35 minutes of this game were pretty awful by our own high standards. A few of the lads were still recovering from the previous evening, but it’s not as if this is anything unusual. It definitely doesn’t explain why Stanford were being allowed to dictate the pace of the game and why we seemed to be totally disorganised and disinterested. Our cause wasn’t helped by a whistle happy referee, who was determined to blow up for the slightest bit of physical contact. Given the size of the pitch, every one of the many free kicks we conceded in the first half was a goal scoring opportunity and the ball was regularly flying into the Oaks box. I suppose it is a measure of our expectations that tempers were beginning to get a little frayed, but as long as we accept collective criticism, frustration borne from knowing that we can, and should be doing better can not be a bad thing.
It was therefore not a total shock that Stanford took the lead in the first half through a well delivered corner that was nodded home at the back door: 1-0.
Although the first half was one to forget overall, there were still plenty of positives; not least Bunny’s distribution, of which Nathan was one of the key beneficiaries as he looked to exploit the bags of room Stanford’s attacking formation (they played 3 up top) allowed down the right. However, Nathan was one of those still a bit jaded from the night before and didn’t look at his lethal best when these chances came his way in the opening 45.
One man who was able to capitalise on yet another excellent ball from Bunny was Tapsell. Who raced clear of the defence and finished expertly to get the Oaks back level: 1-1.
This goal didn’t seem to settle the early jitters, and Stanford were soon back on top when their coughing and spluttering centre forward got clear of the Oaks defence and lifted over the advancing Ty – who dealt the striker a kick in the ribs for his troubles: 2-1.
It’s a measure of how far this team has come that, personally at least, even though I was disappointed that we conceded again, I was never worried about us not getting back into the game, and I knew for certain that (despite having much of the same team) Stanford wouldn’t be capable of repeating either of the 7-2 thrashings they had dealt out to the Oaks in 2009. In fact in the last ten minutes of the half we started to find our rhythm, and could easily have gone into half time in the lead. The stand out chances being a Bunny Blaster from 30 yards that shook the crossbar and a great move that ended with Harry shooting wide after Deano, Eye-Ball, Ryan and Harry combined in a 7 pass move that saw the ball travel from right back, to left back, up the left wing and almost into the back of the net.
The half time team talk was pretty straightforward – get your heads back on it and go out there and win this game. The ten minute break, plus the fact that Stanford looked to be suffering due to their first half exertions, seemed to do the trick as the Oaks came out for the second half all guns blazing.
The one goal deficit was wiped out when Tapsell found Harry in space on the left, and he finished neatly past the keeper with his left foot for his 13th goal of the season: 2-2.
There was some uncertainty after the game as to whether Harry's goal had been the second or third. However, Nick assured us that is must have been second as he distinctly remembers feeling slightly nauseous at the thought of Harry pulling away from him in the goal scoring chart. If such concerns are what it takes to spring the BFJ into life then that is fine by me, as he was soon reducing the chart deficit to one (with a big hand from Harry), and giving the Oaks the lead for the first time in the game. H collected the ball on the right and crossed perfectly to meet the BFJ's run, who side footed neatly into the net from six yards: 2-3.
The Oaks were noticeably more relaxed now, and there was even time for a bit of crowd pleasing from Eye-Ball who, when trying to keep the ball in up the line, only succeeded in tripping himself up and diving head first into one of the footballs on the sideline - obviously Eye-Ball was overwhelmed from the resulting sympathy. Fortunately I've found an artist's impression of the incident:
Milesy also took the third goal as a cue to make his first change as Sharpy replaced H.
Despite their total dominance (and the fact that injuries meant Stanford played some of the second half with ten men before putting one of the injured players in goal), the Oaks still need to be wary of the fact the Stanford are a goal scoring machine, and they scored their third good goal of the game when the striker shot from outside of the area into the bottom corner: 3-3.
This goal didn't deter the Oaks who continued to pepper the Stanford goal, with the best chances falling to Nathan - who was denied from six yards out by an amazing save by the proper goal keeper - and Tapsell, who fluffed his lines when through one on one, and scooped his shot wide of the target. Deano also claims his driven effort was destined for the top corner if it hadn't been well saved by the keeper (who was now playing on pitch and throwing himself in front of Deano at the time the ball connected with his hands).
It didn't take long for the Stanford spirit to be broken, and it was Nick who, for the second time in the game, restored the lead for the Oaks. This time it was Nathan who crossed the ball, and Nick did well whilst falling backwards to glance the ball into the net for his 13th of the season, and a rare headed goal: 3-4
The Oaks capitalised on Stanford's dejection thanks to two great corners from Ryan. The first falling straight onto Rob's head, who made no mistake to make the score 3-5, and second being a carbon copy that this time fell on the flame coloured head of Tapsell: 3-6.
With the game now won Milesy put on two more sets of fresh legs with Al replacing Nick - who came close to grabbing his hat-trick with a stinging drive from outside the box - and Luke coming on for Bunny.
There was still time for Sharpy to grab some headlines, as he scored his sixth goal in five games when he just beat the limping replacement keeper to a through ball from Nathan, and bundled the ball over the line via various parts of his anatomy: 3-7.
That's now 29 goals scored by the Oaks in just five games, which means things are really hotting up in the goals and assists chart. If we just remember to keep helping each other put the ball in the net and we can't go wrong.
Eye-Ball
Next game: Sunday 25th March Away v Socketts Heath @ Palmers
REMEMBER CLOCKS GO FORWARD ONE HOUR ON SUNDAY
Goals and assist
1 comment:
do you guys fancy a pre season friendly we play in the division above(sparks)
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