S.S.C. Orsett 1 - 4 Oaks Athletic

The last time these two sides met, the Oaks gave away a two goal lead and allowed Orsett to leave with a point. There was no such complacency this time, as the Oaks put in a controlled performance in challenging conditions to end a three game losing run.

The day didn't get off to the best start. Everyone (including Connor) turned up at Orsett Rec before 10, but there was no sign of the key for the padlock to the box that controlled the roller shutters for the changing rooms. This meant us waiting outside until 10 past, when the two Orsett players who had turned up in Keyways vans finally decided to put their training to good use. In the meantime a ball had been lost on the roof, and H went arse over tit on the wet ground.

With Lakeside and Springhouse still to play, finishing fourth is still a possibility

H's theatricals didn't prevent him being rewarded for his good performance last week with another start:

Subs: Parker, Scott, Nick, Browne

The first half saw the Oaks kicking up hill, against the wind on a boggy and uneven pitch. It really wasn't the right conditions for smooth passing, and our best efforts came from quick breaks. Dale had the best of our early chances following some neat interchanges with H, but seemed determined to continue practising blasted the ball over from six yards.

The Oaks had to absorb a lot of early pressure, and must have defended at least 6 corners in the opening 20 minutes. Our defending was solid, and included a fantastic headed clearance from under the bar from Niki, with the ball certain to enter the goal.

Our hard work defending our own goal was finally rewarded when we won a corner of our own. Ryan swung the ball in, and when Tapsell's effort fell loose in the box, the oldest man on the pitch (that's Rob in case you were wondering if the oppo had someone even older) reacted the quickest to prod the ball into the net: 0-1.

We needed to make Orsett pay for not taking any of their early chances, and Tapsell and Dale duly obliged. Tapsell broke through the middle and unselfishly set Dale clear on the right. His initial effort was blocked as the keeper rushed out, but it squirmed under him to allow Dale to hurdle him and side foot into an empty net: 0-2.

Our performance in this first half was far below what we had achieved in our defeat to Brema last week, but in true Oaks fashion we were just doing enough to stay on top against a team who maybe had one eye on their upcoming cup final. However, we were to get a wake up call before half time when an unstoppable free kick from just outside the area was dispatched into the roof of our net: 1-2.

The Oaks didn't need much reminding of what had happened in the reverse fixture, and went out for the second half with renewed determination to put the game out of Orsett's reach. We almost got off to the best possible start when Dale broke into the box and lifted the ball over the keeper. Unfortunately there was just too much on it, and the ball bounced off the top of the cross bar and behind.

The third goal for the Oaks was to be scored by Dale. I don't actually remember Connor having to make a save in the second half, but this was mainly because he was so good at coming off his line to claim the ball before the oppositions strikers could get on the end of anything. On one such occasion, Connor collected the ball and threw it out quickly to Ryan on the half way line. Kenyon-The-Younger then played in Dale on the left, who sped away from Orsett's tiring defence to score: 1-3.

The two goal cushion seemed to give the Oaks extra confidence, and the chances started to come thick and fast. A couple fell to Nathan, who was finding a lot of space on the right when the ball was on the left side of the pitch. He was picked out at least twice with good diagonal balls, but each time he unleashed a shot he was denied by superb saves from the Orsett keeper. Tapsell also had a good chance when he found space at the back post from a corner swung in by Scott (who had come on along with Nick and Parker in place of H, Ryan and Deano). Tapsell is usually deadly from here, but got his angles wrong on this occasion and headed wide.

It was left to Bunny to add the icing to the cake, when Rob turned from goal poacher to provider. Against George and Dragon a couple of weeks ago, I remember us berating how none of the rebounds in the area fell to our players. This game proved that what goes around comes around, as Rob's effort from a corner was blocked and Bunny was closest to curl the ball into the bottom corner, off the man who had drifted away from post guarding duties. Now Bunny doesn't say a lot, so I felt somewhat privileged to be close enough to hear a little shout of "Yes!" to accompany the fist pump that passed for Bunny's goal celebration: 1-4.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 24 March 2013 @ Home v Greyhound

Goal Scoring Chart:

Brema United 5 - 4 Oaks Athletic

We may have lost this match, but I for one handed my flag back to the referee with an immense feeling of pride at being an Oaks player. I was proud for the way we played, especially given that the memories of the 8-2 humiliation at Brema's hands were still relatively fresh. Compared to our opposition, I was also proud of the way we conducted ourselves and supported each other. The way Brema's wholly unpleasant manager chastised and berated his own team - let alone his lack of respect for us - and the fighting between team-mates, reminded me that I'd much rather play for a team that loses every week but can have a laugh about it down the pub afterwards.

The Oaks lose a little ground on fifth spot

With 7 games left to play, Milesy wants to give everyone as much game time as possible and so rested Eye-Ball to give Browne a much deserved 90 minutes. The only other change was in the formation, with Harry replacing the injured Mikey and partnering Dale in attack.

subs: Scott, Nick, Eye-Ball, Parker

The Oaks were by far the better team in the first half. By playing a deep line, we were able to nullify the threat posed by Brema's tricky strikers, and Ryan, Tapsell, Bunny and Nathan were on top in the midfield. So much so that time and time again they found time and space to release Dale and Harry, who were exploiting the high line being played by the opposition and making great runs in behind. We all know that our game is about picking out through balls for the strikers at the earliest opportunity, but for much of this season Dale has been the only target. With H there in support we had double the options, and the two young strikers were running the Brema defence ragged. Their movement was superb, and their willingness to chase down everything lead to the opening goal for the Oaks. Tapsell's searching ball into the box from the right found the Brema keeper and defender in disagreement over who would deal with it. This left the surprised H with the chance to sneak between them and redirect the ball past the keeper with the outside of his boot: 0-1.

Despite the Oaks dominance, Brema were still a big threat when they got into our box, and when the ball was played back in following a set piece, the defence didn't quite move out quick enough, and the ball was tapped into the net from 6 yards. They were also the next team to get the ball in the net, but when the striker volleyed the ball home following a flick on, Eye-Ball correctly flagged for offside (squad!): 1-1.

The Oaks continued their good worked, and they deservedly reclaimed the lead when Ryan picked out H with a diagonal ball from left to right. H raced into the box and finished superbly; smashing the ball into the roof of the net: 1-2.

With H getting a lot of the attention, Dale was finding a lot of space which, with the help of the supply from midfield, he was fully exploiting. Unfortunately Dale was having a rare off day in front of goal, and a number of chances he would have usually easily converted were missed. The best chance of all was from a fantastic defence splitting ball from Nathan. Dale raced clear, but with only the keeper to beat the ball was blazed over the bar. The person who was most critical of these missed chances was Dale himself, but it is hard to be too harsh when 90% of the work is getting into those goal scoring positions in the first place, and there has not been anybody better than Dale at this to play for the Oaks in recent years.

With Brema's attacking threat, there was always a danger that we would be made to rue these missed chances, and so it was when a hopeful ball towards goal took the slightest of deflections that took it away from Connor and into the back of the net: 2-2.

There were a lot fewer clear cut chances in the opening exchanges of the second half, and it took a fluky cross/shot to give Brema an undeserved lead. The ball was struck with venom from the left edge of the penalty area, and found its way into the net via the near post: 3-2.

With Oaks now chasing the game gaps started to appear, and Brema found more space to exploit their dangerous attacking options. The Oaks conceded again, with Browne getting caught last man, and despite his valiant effort on the line the ball still crept over. A fifth quickly followed when a deflected shot fortuitously fell to a Brema player on the edge of the six yard box, and he had the easy job of tapping home: 5-2.

There is no way that the Oaks deserved to be 3 goals down, and they could easily have put their heads down and felt sorry for themselves. To the contrary, they showed great character and pride to keep pushing right up to the final whistle. With Scott and Nick on for H and Bunny the intent was shown to keep attacking. Even Niki got in on the action, but couldn't squeeze the ball past the five bodies that were between him and the goal when the ball fell to him in the area. The Oaks were always vulnerable to being caught on the break now, and great commitment was shown firstly by Tapsell - who raced back to intercept a goal bound effort and redirect it onto the bar thanks to applying the perfect amount of shin, and Connor who was left to defend on his own following an Oaks corner, and raced off his line to make a perfectly timed tackle some 35 yards from the comfort of his own goal.

You can't keep Dale out of the goals for long, and he got the Oaks back to within a goal of a remarkable comeback. Firstly he was played in down the left by Bunny, and for the first time decided to give his left foot a go. It proved an inspired choice as the ball curled away from the keeper and entered the goal via the far post: 5-3.

Dale's second - and the Oaks fourth - came via the penalty spot. Nathan finally got his assist when his shot was blocked by hands inside the box. Dale stepped up, and despite the best efforts of the opposition to put him off, he stroked the ball calmly into the back of the net: 5-4.

The final ten minutes were set up for the Oaks to find an equaliser, and Ryan came within inches of supplying it. His cracking drive on the run from 30 yards was destined for the top corner, and it took a great save from Brema's keeper to keep it out.

The Oaks may have left with no points, but through this performance they should have gained a lot of self belief and team spirit that should convince us that we can have an enjoyable and successful last 6 games of the season.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 17th March - Away @ Orsett Rec v SSC Orsett - 10:30 k.o.

Goal scoring chart

George and Dragon 5 - 3 Oaks Athletic (Div 1 Cup Semi Final)

The way George's manager was talking after the game you would have thought the result was better for the Oaks as, by losing, we would be avoiding humiliation by Brema in the final. As it turns out, a shock penalty shoot-out win for SSC Orsett makes George and Dragon favourites to lift the cup, and although the news of this in the pub left some Oaks players wondering what might have been, we gave it our all in this game and the fact that this wasn't enough just shows that it wasn't meant to be.

Milsey started this game with a familiar line-up, but with plenty of attacking options on the bench should they be needed.

Subs: H, Sharpy, Scott, Browne, Parker

The Oaks started brightly and controlled the game for the opening half an hour as George and Dragon - a young team well known for their good passing football - became increasingly frustrated by the pressure they were put under. The Oaks early dominance saw them create the better of the chances, with Niki coming close with a dipping effort that wasn't far wide.

The Oaks deservedly took the lead midway through the first half when Mikey was brought down on the edge of the area. Ryan stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the net via the near post: 1-0.

The Oaks defended resolutely in this game, but on one of the few occasions that G&D got behind us we were punished. Their tricky left winger ran into the box on our right, and his pull back would almost definitely have resulted in a goal if it had not been for Mikey's intervention. Unfortunately his sliding block had the same end result, and our lead was wiped out: 1-1.

We could do nothing about the goal that gave G&D the lead before half time, as the same player who had set up the first goal hooked the ball over his head towards goal from the edge of the area. It must have been more luck than judgement that saw it dip over Connor's head and into the far top corner of the net: 2-1.

Parity, at the very least, was deserved for the Oaks first half performance, and we needed to lift ourselves if the next 45 minutes wasn't to be our last in the competition. In fairness to G&D they showed great quality both defensively and in possession to repel most of what we threw at them. They were strong in the air from corners and throw-ins, their tall keeper claimed what wasn't headed clear, and they did a lot better than most teams at keeper Dale relatively quiet (although illness meant he probably wasn't at his best).

Both teams were struggling to break down the other's defence, and so long range efforts were the order of the day. Bunny had a good one for the oaks that would have dipped under the cross bar had it not been for the keeper's acrobatic intervention. With chances from open play at a premium, it was via a penalty that the Oaks got back on level terms. Tapsell's shot was judged to have been stopped with an arm inside the box, and Dale stepped up to calmly send the keeper the wrong way from the spot: 2-2.

If you were being hyper-critical, you could say that the Oaks were at fault for allowing the long range efforts that saw us two goals down in the space of ten minutes. The reality is that we had to take our hats off to the finishes that you might expect to see once in a handful of games at this level, but not twice in ten minutes. The first may have added further weight to the call for goal line technology, but the ref was convinced that the movement of the net meant it had crossed the line as it came down off the underside of the crossbar. There was no doubt about the fourth, that was curled into the far corner from the right side of our box: 4-2.

Scott had already come on to replaced sick note (that's Mikey B in case you were wondering), and Milesy made two more changes with H replacing Bunny and Sharpy coming on for Eye-Ball, as we went 3-4-3 in an attempt to overhaul the deficit. It has been almost a year since Sharpy last pulled on an Oaks shirt, and many thought that, following his op he never would again. However, he is actually under doctor's orders to play again and it was great to see this Oaks legend back on the pitch. One thing you can say about Sharpy is that when he is on the pitch things happen. Most of the time these things are both football related and positive, and he almost made instant headlines as he rose at the back post to win a header with his first touch. Understandably he's a little rusty, and the chance flew over the bar.

H then had a similar chance from another Ryan cross, but he too failed to keep his header down. The Oaks then got caught short in the box, having pushed so many men forward, and G&D's left back found time and space in the box to fire into the net: 5-2.

I was really proud of the boys, as they kept giving it everything despite the desperate nature of the task in hand. The pressure from the Oaks finally paid off when Dale's shot deflected into Ryan's path, and he found a gap at the near post to fire the ball into the net from 6 yards: 5-3.

Ryan was the stand out Oaks player in this game, with everything good that we created coming through him. He could have had a hat full of assists, and put one on a plate for H when he drove to the bye-line and pulled the ball low back across the box. H did everything right, but couldn't account from the amazing reactions of the G&D keeper, as he dived low and somehow pushed the ball over the bar.

That final chance summed up that it wasn't to be our day, and we were humble in defeat as we wished George and Dragon all the best for their final clash against Orsett. At least we will always have the fond memories of last year.

Eye-Ball

Goal scoring chart