With the league won it will now be interesting to see who will be joining us in promotion to Division One next year. It is impossible to say how many teams will go up as this will depend on how many teams are pushed up to the Premier Division (there are currently only eight teams in that league) and how many fold over the summer. Still, it's a pretty safe bet that at least four will go up, and with Thameside beating Tilbury they have secured promotion. Jacks Lads beat Stanford, but they have left it too late to get into the top four, having finished with 31 points. Pegasus were the other team to win this week, beating Jurgens, but they will have to wait to see if their 32 points will be enough to finish in the top four as it could well come down to goal difference.
Despite Bunny being available again, Al (Blake) was rewarded for a good performance last week with another start alongside Tapsell in the centre of midfield. Sharpy was also given a start, partnering H up front, and with only a few weeks until his operation we all hoped he would make the most of this opportunity.
ppppppppppppppppTy
Deano (c)ppppppRobppppNikippppEye-Ball
NathanppppppAlpppppTapsellppppppRyan
ppppppppppppSharpyppppHarry
subs: Nick, Bunny, Parker
The Oaks played well in the first half, and looked to make the most of the freshly mowed surface as they passed the ball around with confidence. It was clear that H, Nathan and Ryan had the better of their opposite numbers and Blake, Tapsell and Sharpy looked to play the ball in behind the defence whenever possible.
Ty had very little to do in the first half, and despite a couple of efforts that went wide, Wilburn never threatened our goal.
The Oaks took the lead in the first half when Sharpy got to the ball first on the the edge of the 18 yard box, and back heeled the ball into the danger zone for H to chase. The defenders really should have dealt with the ball, but their hesitation was enough for H to stick out a boot and poke the ball past the keeper: 1-0.
The Oaks should have been at least two or three up going into the break, but some good saves from Wilburn's fine young keeper, and a few misses - including a tame finish from H from 5 yards that went straight to the keeper (sorry H, that one stuck in the mind) - kept the scoreline looking respectable.
With the league and cup won (just thought I'd mention that again), and a comfortable one nil lead it's not surprising that some of the intensity that has been so key to the Oaks success was missing in the second half. Despite a couple of glimpses of what we can do when we play the ball along the floor (a defence splitting left to right pass from Ryan being a prime example), we never really got into top gear and a combination of poor decision making and lapses in concentration gifted four goals to Wilburn in the second half. Still, the Oaks always play with a lot of pride which was evident in the fact that we came back from a goal down twice in the second half and really should have left with all three points.
Wilburn equalised when the ball broke to their striker in the box, and he was allowed time to get the ball out of his feet and lift it over Ty into the roof of the net: 1-1.
The Oaks then regained the lead when the industrious Sharpy beat the keeper to the ball when it was played into the box and was subsequently brought down. Sharpy took the penalty he had won, and admitted to taking a leaf out of Nick's book as he smashed it hard down the middle. Despite getting something on it, the keeper could only redirect it into the roof of the net: 2-1.
The Oaks then leaked two goals in quick succession, both of which came from individual errors that 9 times out of 10 wouldn't have happen. Firstly, Niki moved up the pitch to the win the ball and played it to Ryan on the left. Rather than play the way he was facing, Ryan then tried to play a reverse pass back to Niki that was intercepted. With Niki out of position Wilburn broke into the box, and despite Eye-Ball making the initial tackle, the ball broke nicely for the Wilburn striker who finished sweetly into the bottom corner: 2-2.
The third Wilburn goal came from a much bigger howler as the ball was played diagonally behind the Oaks centre backs for their speedsters to run on to. As he has done on countless occasions Eye-Ball read the danger and drifted across to clear the ball with his favoured right foot. Unfortunately the right foot proved to be the best of a bad punch on this occasion as the ball looped up off his shin right into the path of the on rushing forwards. Ty made the initial save, but the ball fell right at the feet of the second striker who tapped home into an empty net: 2-3.
With 15 minutes still to play, the Oaks needed to lift themselves, and with Nick now on for Harry we looked to make the most of our physical presence to dominate from set pieces. The equaliser came when a long throw from Nathan was nodded down by Tapsell into the path of Ryan, and the young winger let out his frustration on the ball as he whacked it through a crowded box into the net: 3-3.
I believe the fourth goal for the Oaks also started from a Nathan throw. This time Wilburn did manage to clear the ball, but only as far as Nathan. He then broke to the bye-line, and had time to pick his spot. This he did perfectly as he put the ball right on the head of Nick, who was unmarked in the box. He rose and nodded the ball into the net for his 14th of the season: 4-3.
The Oaks, and most of the Wilburn players as well, thought this would be the winning goal. However, Wilburn had already shown that if we gave them a whiff of goal they were capable of capitalising. With Deano preparing to take a throw on the right, the usual "up the line - flick on" combination seemed the most likely option. However, Tapsell decided to make himself available to receive the ball inside our half (for which he should be commended). Unfortunately the one Wilburn player who had shown any desire to win the ball was in close proximity. He caught Taps in possession, raced clear and finished superbly off the inside of the far post for his Hat-Trick and to grab his side a point: 4-4.
On reflection you may say that this was a disappointing result from a good side who were far too casual in the second half. However, we should just shrug it off: we're still unbeaten; we've still won the league; we've still won the league cup; we're still having a great season; we can still have a laugh about it all in the pub, and our beer still tastes a lot sweeter than anybody elses (oh, and Sharpy made it through 90 minutes!).
Eye-Ball
Next game: Sunday 15th April @ Home v Jurgens Sport: 1030 KO.
Goals and assists chart
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