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Ist Team Match = Reports -=20 Season 2007/08

Saturday 3rd May 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Garsington
4
4
 Chadlington

Hard-Earned Point=20 May Prove Not Enough

Chadlington travelled to Garsington = for their=20 final league game knowing that only a win would secure runners-up = spot=20 after Stonesfield had closed the gap with a midweek victory over=20 Kennington. However, despite scoring three second half goals after = trailing 4-1 at the break, the visitors could not find a fifth = goal and=20 had to settle for a point.

Kicking down the slope Garsington started the game = the more=20 brighter of the sides and scored twice within the first 20 = minutes. Mark=20 Odom pulled one back for Chadlington and Dave Herbert had a goal=20 disallowed. However, Garsington added two further goals to take a=20 comfortable lead into the break. H-T 4-1.

Chadlington's first half performance was well = below par and=20 in all honesty they could only improve - and improve they did. = First Odom=20 scored and then a double from Herbert brought the scores level = with 15=20 minutes remaining. The way the visitors had come back into the = game the=20 bookies had stopped taking bets on an away win. However chances = went=20 begging and if they had converted any of the four clear = opportunities, or=20 the shot from Odom in the last minute had gone in when striking = the inside=20 of the post, then the three points would have been secured. F-T = 4-4

However, the required victory was not to be. If = Stonesfield=20 beat Bardwell on Tuesday night they will take the runners-up = position in=20 the league.

Regardless of the Stonesfield result Chadlington = will have=20 finished in their highest league position since entering the = Oxfordshire=20 Senior League and credit goes to the Manager Robbie Wyatt, his = players and=20 the support from within the club on this achievement. The 'bar' = has been=20 raised this season and planning is already well underway to raise = it again=20 next season.


Team: = Heritage,=20 Akers, McCabe, Shadbolt, Beauchamp, Ellis, Fitzgerald, Forde, = Herbert,=20 Odom, Gilbert. Substitutes: Wyatt.

Man of the = Match: For=20 two great goals and his pace causing the Garsington defence = trouble=20 throughout the game this week's Man of the Match goes to = Dave=20 Herbert.  

 

 

 

 

Saturday 26th April 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Chadlington
1
2
 Rover Cowley
Keyes = (2),Wyattkeyes,KeKShadbolt
    

Walsh, = Williams

    
M-O-M - Nick Heritage =
   
Wayne Beauchamp - fine = game

Rover = Snatch Title=20 in Battle of the Giants

In a game = that would=20 have graced a far higher level of football, Rover Cowley edged = past=20 Chadlington in a titanic encounter at the Sports Ground on = Saturday to win=20 the Oxfordshire Senior League Premiership title for the first time = in 30=20 years.

The village came out to play, and a crowd = approaching 100=20 was present on a perfect sunny spring day to see Chadlington play = their=20 main rivals in a game that they had to win to stay in contention = for the=20 Premiership Crown.

Rover were first to kick into action, = starting=20 fast and furious for the first ten minutes with Chris Fontaine = quickly=20 into his stride, stretching the home defensive combination of Matt = Ellis,=20 Wayne Beauchamp and Anthony Akers with searching through balls. =

It=20 was so fast and furious that Robbie Wyatt found himself in referee = Tomkin's book within four minutes for a "slightly late" tackle on = Steve=20 Brandon. Said a Chadlington "official", drawing heavily on his = freshly lit=20 "Harry Wragg", "Considering his age, he got there as quickly as he = could"!=20 Everyone on the bench nodded sagely, as they knew the "Gaffers" = age and=20 that he was more than capable of looking after himself in a = scuffle. They=20 also knew it was unwise to disagree with a very tough scaffolder = in the=20 prime of his life!

After the slow start Chadlington = settled, and=20 it was they who came closest in the early stages, first Alan = Shadbolt=20 volleying over from the edge of the box, then Lee Keyes failing to = connect=20 cleanly from close range following a cross from the = right.

On the=20 half hour came another opportunity for Chadlington to go ahead, = and=20 another opportunity to see Keyes at his very best. Collecting a = ball in=20 the centre circle, he ran at the Rover backline before unleashing = a drive=20 from 20 yards. Clearly, with the ball unstoppable, veteran 'keeper = Brian=20 Kirk could only watch and no doubt admire a finish that look = destined for=20 the top left hand corner of his net. But alas, in the last few = yards the=20 ball curled wide, missing by the proverbial coat of paint, = bringing in an=20 instance, a smile to the face of the visitors=92 50 year old = shot=20 stopper!

The break came with the score level, both sides = delighted=20 with their respective first half displays, the crowd delighted = with the=20 quality of the entertainment, and the Chadlington Chairman = certainly=20 delighted with the great majority of the crowd retiring to "JT's = bar" for=20 a refreshing glass of amber nectar, their hard earned pennies = swelling the=20 bar turnover. On this warm early summers day it was good to be=20 alive!  H-T 0-0

After only three minutes of the = restart, and=20 many of the crowd missing, possibly taking on an extra pint of = liquid for=20 health reasons, Rover went ahead. A long, penetrative ball caught = the=20 Chadlington defence off guard and set quicksilver Rover = "whippet=94, Steven=20 Walsh, away on the right. His pace and control proved too much for = Akers,=20 and with Ellis failing to recover ground
in time, he was clear = on=20 goal. Lesser strikers would have hesitated at the sight of big = Nick=20 Heritage advancing off his line, but not Walsh, his ice cool = finish after=20 a lightning run too good for the Chadlington 'keeper. Rover were = one=20 up!

Five minutes later it could have been two, as the pace = of the=20 Rover strikers continued to trouble the home defence. From a cross = on the=20 right, Shane Mitchell's head met the ball perfectly from six = yards,=20 directing it wide to Heritage's left. Most keepers would have been = beaten=20 but not this one. With astounding agility and speed that would not = have=20 been out of place at Pride
Park, the craggy 'keeper dived to = his left=20 to fingertip Mitchell's fine effort to safety, at the time a key = moment,=20 as a second goal for Rover would have made it very difficult for=20 Chadlington to recover and take anything from the = game.

Despite=20 being a goal behind, the one characteristic that has always = defined this=20 Chadlington side was now clear to see. Their "never say die" = attitude.=20 This strength, instilled in them by Manager Wyatt saw them, not = only=20 recover from the set back, but up their tempo and grab the game by = the=20 throat. In boxing parlance, they rose from the canvas, wiped their = gloves,=20 got on the
front foot and took the fight to Rover. As = spectators of "a=20 certain age" will remember from their comic days, it was Roy of = the Rovers=20 stuff, but on this occasion, Roy wasn't playing for = Rover!

Shaun=20 Gilbert started causing havoc with his runs and crosses down the = right.=20 Mark Odom and Keyes began to find more space in the channels, = Wyatt=20 patrolled and controlled midfield, and it was Rover who were now = hitting=20 long balls to relieve pressure, their tidy short passing game on = hold=20 until they had weathered the storm.

Then in the 62nd minute = Chadlington deservedly equalised. Odom and Wyatt combined well = near the=20 left corner flag allowing Richard McCabe to hit a majestic left = foot=20 volleyed cross deep across Kirk's goal. Predator Keyes was waiting = but=20 could not go for the target from his acute angle. Unselfishly he = returned=20 the ball back across the six yard line to "Squadron Leader" = Shadbolt, on a=20 reconnaissance raid from his base at Brize Norton. Rising like a = phoenix=20 from the ashes, his neck bulged, well, a little more than usual, = as he=20 steered a glancing header wide of Kirk and in off the post. Airman = Shadbolt had done it again, his third strike in five games, not = bad for a=20 holding midfielder.

It would be totally wrong to say Rover = were=20 being overrun by a rampant Chadlington side. They were still = playing=20 attractive, confident, controlled football, Walsh's mobility = upfront a=20 constant thorn in Chadlington's side. But they were being put = under=20 pressure whenever balls were dropped into their box, although = sadly on too=20 few occasions to the feet of Chadlington players. Half
chances = came=20 and went, the closest, a miss-hit shot from Chris Forde late in = the game,=20 hacked away from the line when Kirk was stranded. Unconverted half = chances=20 do not make goals, and there are no prizes given for territorial=20 advantage.

Nothing more could be asked of Wyatt's team, in = a game=20 that they had to win, a draw sufficient for Rover, if they won = their final=20 game, a rearranged fixture with WCOB and Bletchingdon.

With = ten=20 minutes remaining, Ellis was released into midfield with Shadbolt = going=20 forward to add weight to the attack, but alas that one all = important=20 chance could not be created, Kirk not called on to display = his=20 skills. His goal remained untroubled and Chadlington's race looked = to be=20 run.

The fight looked to be heading for an honourable draw; = in all=20 honesty a fair result in a game contested brilliantly by the two = best=20 sides in the league and officiated perfectly by referee Dan=20 Tomkin.

Then in the dying minutes Williams went and spoilt = it. For=20 the home supporters anyway. With Chadlington pressing forward his = surge=20 down the right brought him "one on one" with Heritage. Veterans, = with=20 attitude, are dangerous strikers and he didn't let his small, but=20 vociferous travelling fans down. He beat Heritage with ease to = make the=20 game safe and Rover Cowley worthy Champions of the Premiership.=20

The Rover contingent were in raptures and I swear that I = saw one=20 supporter renowned for his prolific thirst, actually drop his can = of=20 Kronenborg 1664 when undertaking a victory jig, a feat previously = unheard=20 of in the Cowley area.

So, the game was won, Rover Cowley = Champions=20 fair and square, Chadlington left to lick their wounds, reform, = and travel=20 to Garsington next Saturday in search of a win that would = guarantee them=20 the runners-up spot.

Congratulations to Rover Cowley, a = side that=20 always play good football. But congratulations also to Robbie = Wyatt's=20 boys. To a man they performed magnificently; no-one could have = given more.=20 They were superb, as they have been all season, a season that will = go down=20 as one of the most successful in the clubs history even though = they did=20 not win a title or a Cup. The 2007-2008
squad had taken = Chadlington to=20 their highest level since the club formed in 1912. It has been a = momentous=20 season.

 But back to the Champions. One thing was = certain=20 judging by the celebrations going on in the Rover dressing room = after Dan=20 Tomkin had brought the game to a close, they would be dancing in = the=20 streets of Cowley on Saturday night. Whether the "Kronenbourg Kid" = was=20 still on his feet to enjoy the festivities was a more difficult = one to=20 call!

Hopefully there will be more days like the one = enjoyed at=20 Chadlington on Saturday, April 26th 2008, a day when the two best = sides in=20 the OSL came out to play! And hopefully the next time they come = out to=20 play it will be Chadlington's day!

Team: = Heritage,=20 Akers, McCabe, Shadbolt, Beauchamp, Ellis, R.Wyatt, Forde, =
Keyes,=20 Odom, Gilbert. Substitutes: Herbert (65), M.Corbett (78),=20 Jones.

Man of the Match: It would be = entirely=20 appropriate to give it to all the
players who performed on = Saturday.=20 They all battled and scrapped for their
life, and the village. = But=20 whilst not an outfield player, this man kept
Chadlington in = the game=20 with a truly fantastic save to stop Rover going two up.
His = handling=20 throughout was exemplary and he looked unbeatable except for the =
two=20 "one on ones". This week's Man of the Match, big keeper, big save, = NICK
HERITAGE.  

Alan Shadbolt heads the = equaliser

So close...Rover defender = clears from his=20 line late in the game

Peter Roth (left) travelled = from Margate to=20 cover the game for
http://ww= w.footballgroundsinfocus.com/traveltales.html=20 (visit the web site early next week for the report).
His = colleague=20 made the journey from Wimbledon

and finally, Happy 65th = Birthday=20 this week to Ron
from all his fellow supporters on the "wall' = and the=20 Club.=20

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Chadlington
3
1
 Adderbury
Keyes = (2),Wyattkeyes,KeKKeyes (2) Gilbert
   

Byrne

    
M-O-M Matt Ellis
    
Lee Keyes - two = goals

Huff = And Puff Blows=20 Adderbury Away

On a hard, bouncy playing surface = Chadlington=20 played second fiddle to an energetic and enthusiastic Adderbury = side for=20 long periods of time before over powering them with opportunist = goals from=20 Lee Keyes and Shaun Gilbert.

Chadlington got off to a = perfect start=20 and opened the scoring in the eight minute. Robbie Wyatt set Mark = Odom=20 away in his familiar left channel and from his resulting cross; = Keyes was=20 blatantly pushed from behind. It was a simple decision for referee = Dave=20 Disbury, as was the execution of the spot kick from Keyes. He may = have=20 missed one on Saturday but never two in a row!

Whilst = Adderbury=20 were enjoying a larger share of the play, they were creating few = chances=20 to test Nick Heritage, the big 'keeper able to field through balls = and=20 back passes with comfort. Adderbury were impressive however, and = with a=20 very lively midfield and a tendency to throw players forward at = will,=20 Wyatt, Chris Forde and Alan Shadbolt were chasing shadows for much = of the=20 half.

Against the run of play, Chadlington increased their = lead on=20 the half hour mark following a free kick on the right from Wyatt. = His=20 classic low, hard hit ball was delivered into the perfect area for = any=20 "sniffer" of goals. And no one sniffs more than Keyes. Goal = scorers have=20 an instinct to be in the right place at the right time and Keyes = duly=20 obliged, the ball nudged past Lister's right
hand to double = his, and=20 the teams score.

Even with the confidence of a two goal = lead, the=20 difficult surface was making it hard for the Chadlington = "playmakers" to=20 get the ball down and play, too many passes going astray due to a=20 combination of touch, the conditions, and a desire to deliver the=20 difficult ball instead of the simple one. When a player's second = touch is=20 a header you know the ground is hard!!!

It came as no = surprise when=20 Adderbury reduced the deficit five minutes before the break, as it = was=20 well deserved. What was a surprise was the ferocity of the 25 yard = drive=20 from Byrne which swerved away from Heritage's groping left hand = before=20 settling in the bottom corner of the net. Possibly one of the top = three=20 goals scored against Chadlington all season and one which = numerically=20 brought Adderbury back into the game. H-T 2-1.

Shortly = after=20 half-time Adam Tinkham was replaced by Shaun Gilbert, the former = suffering=20 from giddy spells, the latter hoping to inflict a few on his = marker, full=20 back Guy Andrews.

Adderbury, considering their mid table = position,=20 and with nothing to play for, were working unbelievably hard, = pushing the=20 home side's midfield quintet deeper and deeper as they continued = to take=20 the play to a side, desperate to put the "game to bed" and move on = to the=20 season's penultimate encounter against table toppers Rover=20 Cowley.

But, inspite of the visitor's possession, few clear = cut=20 chances were being created, a testament to the firm control = exercised by=20 the excellent defensive trio of Wayne Beauchamp, Anthony Akers and = Matt=20 Ellis. Nevertheless, with only a one goal lead, the contest was = too close=20 for comfort, both players and crowd growing restless and edgy = whenever=20 Adderbury crossed halfway.

Fifteen minutes from time the = game was=20 effectively made safe, and relief released from the above average = home=20 support. It originated from Nick Heritage, who had kicked = accurately, and=20 long all game, both a rarity in the big man's repertoire. This = time he was=20 inch perfect, his huge clearance being helped on by Odom to the = onrushing=20 feet of Keyes. A hat-trick looked in sight for the "portly = poacher" but=20 Lister blocked his effort well. Gilbert was first to react = however, and=20 seizing on the ball crashed an unstoppable left foot drive past = the=20 stranded Lister for Chadlington's third.

Nobody can say = Chadlington=20 played well. Equally nobody can say there isn't tension when a = side is=20 going for the Premiership title. Add to that a surface that = doesn't=20 encourage a short passing game and it is clear why Wyatt's men did = not=20 gain the upper hand in midfield and take the game by the scruff of = the=20 neck as they have in so many of their other games.

Hitting = long=20 early balls to the front men requires accuracy of pass and = mobility of=20 runners in order to set up second phase play. Odom is a master at = leading=20 the line in this fashion and he will be relied on heavily over the = next=20 180 minutes of football against Rover Cowley and Garsington. Keep = fit=20 Mark, your village needs you!

Just two games to go and a = win in the=20 Rover game and draw at Garsington all that is necessary to bring = the title=20 to Chadlington. Say it quickly and it sounds easy. Ask any one of = Wyatt's=20 men and they may take a different = view!!

Team:=20 Heritage, Akers, McCabe, Shadbolt, Beauchamp, Ellis, R.Wyatt, = Forde,=20
Keyes, Odom, Tinkham. Substitutes: Gilbert (49), M.Corbett = (76),=20 J.Wyatt.

Man of the Match. Chadlington = were forced=20 to defend for longer than any other game seen at the Sports Ground = this=20 season. To concede only one goal, a great strike from well outside = the=20 box, requires first class defensive qualities and organisation. = Rock solid=20 at the rear, reading the game superbly and distributing accurately = was=20 this weeks Man of the Match, MATT=20 = ELLIS.

 

Saturday 19th April 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

OUP
0
3
 Chadlington
Keyes (2),Wyatt,=20 Herberte
    

Shadbolt,Odom,Forde

    
M-O-M Mark Odom
    
Alan Shadbolt - scored fine=20 goal

Odom Drives Cruise Control = Win

Whilst not a "classic", = Chadlington=20 completed a thoroughly professional job in Oxford on Saturday, = easily=20 beating OUP 3-0 to retain second place in the OSL Premier = Division. =20

Whilst the "title chasers" were not at their best, they = avoided a=20 potential "banana skin" by putting in a workmanlike performance in = a match=20 that was never ever going to be anything else but a comfortable=20 Chadlington victory.

After Lee Keyes had twice gone close = in early=20 forays, Alan Shadbolt opened the scoring in the 9th minute after = Mark Odom=20 had been upended out on the left. Manager Wyatt's first ball was = blocked=20 but when he returned it into the area, the sprightly, spring = heeled,=20 veteran Shadbolt was on it like a flash to score from 12 yards = with an=20 overhead volley. Quite athletic, quite balletic, quite = Shadbolt!

In=20 honesty, OUP loooked lost and disinterested right from the outset, = as=20 Chadlington dictated the game, using long and short balls to great = effect,=20 weaving pretty patterns of play that would have impressed any = football=20 connoisseur watching. Sadly there weren't any!

In the 20th = minute=20 came Chadlington's second, and the best finish of the game, yes, = even=20 better than the bodily contortions exhibited by "Poacher = Shadbolt".=20 Following a rebound from a corner on the left, Wyatt returned a = pin-point=20 cross to find Odom leaping like a salmon to score with a fierce = downward=20 header from eight yards. The highlight of the game, caught in a = few=20 seconds by Odom's masterful finish!

Odom was the main = contributor=20 to the third goal, which came seven minutes later. Receiving the = ball out=20 on the left flank, he cleverly remembered his coaches  words = of=20 advice, tantalising and teasing his marker, before speeding past = him on=20 the outside. His cross was true, as was Chris Forde's left foot = volley=20 from 10 yards, Hamling in the home goal beaten again and the game=20 effectively over. H-T 0-3.

Although OUP changed their = formation=20 after the break, no impact could be made on a rock solid = Chadlington=20 back-line, Nick Heritage being called on only once to move sharply = to=20 gather a near post effort from Kilpin. Other than that, it was = Chadlington=20 who dominated, but, with a cutting edge dulled compared to their = first=20 half exploits, they were never quite able to carve out any really=20 worthwhile goal chances. The game meandered on to its inevitable=20 conclusion.

Adam Tinkham made way for Shaun Gilbert in the = 65th=20 minute, the little wing man quickly adding to OUP's woes with = several=20 lightning strikes down the right, all of them, alas, proving = unproductive.=20 Jamie Wyatt, on for Richard McCabe, soon repeated Gilbert's = exhibition of=20 wing play but with the cold, clinical finishing of the first = period unable=20 to be replicated no more goals would be seen. Wyatt's boys work = was done,=20 they were ready to move on.

In the final 10 minutes = Chadlington=20 could have doubled their score, first Keyes went close, then Odom = had a 25=20 yard pile driver turned on to the bar by Hamling. Then in the = dying=20 minutes, Keyes, after having his legs taken away by Spooner as he = moved=20 deftly into the box, succeeded in putting his spot kick close to = the flag=20 on the 7th green of North Oxford Golf Club instead of the back of=20 Hamling's net. Sadly, there is no record of whether the four foot = putt was=20 sunk!

Quite frankly, Robbie Wyatt's boys came to Oxford and = completed an efficient and methodical job on an OUP side that were = never=20 going to test them. It was an ideal "work out" for the game = against=20 Adderbury Park on Tuesday when they will certainly be pushed much = harder.=20

Saturday's game will never go down in history as a = classic, it was=20 a job well done and three points gained, as simple as that. = Tuesday? Now,=20 that may well be recalled in future as a key chapter in = Chadlington's=20 history. They are marching towards the summit!!! Get behind the = man in=20 front!

Team: Heritage, Akers, McCabe, = Shadbolt,=20 Beauchamp, Ellis, R.Wyatt, Forde,
Keyes, Odom, Tinkham. = Substitutes:=20 Gilbert(65), J.Wyatt(70), M.Corbett(70).

Man of the = Match: A player involved in all three goals. Felled for a = free=20 kick
for the first, scored the second and laid on the third. = Oh, he=20 also hit the
bar. A simple decision, workaholic, MARK=20 = ODOM.

 

Saturday 12th April 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Chadlington
4
0
 Garsington
Keyes=20 (2),Wyatt, Herberte
    

Forde,=20 AkerslipsForde

    
M-O-M Robbie Wyatt =
   
Chris Forde - another power=20 game

Chadlington Tornado = Blows Away=20 Champs

It's over a year since = Garsington, last=20 year's Premiership champions, failed to score in a league game, = and nearly=20 three years since they were beaten by four clear goals, = coincidentally=20 against Chadlington. But on Saturday they had no answer to a = rampant=20 Robbie Wyatt side who hammered home their overall superiority with = a=20 fabulous four goal second half onslaught.

From the first = whistle=20 Chadlington came out of the blocks like Wayne Chambers on steroids = and=20 within 12minutes Lee Keyes had beaten Garsington 'keeper Dalton = twice, the=20 first disallowed for off-side and the second, hand ball. Both were = obvious=20 offences but "surprisingly" Mr Keyes begged to differ, even = suggesting to=20 Chadlington's coach, who had agreed with the officials decisions, = that he=20 may like to consider, how can we put it kindly, "going away"!! Be = very=20 careful Lee, he's a big lad!

Just prior to Keyes's second = strike=20 Nick Heritage brought off a quite magnificent save, diving low to = his left=20 to keep out a Jamie Bracket close range header. An early goal = conceded=20 then could have altered the whole course of the game, Heritage's = save=20 underpinning Manager Wyatt's belief that the big shot stopper = really is=20 the best goal keeper in the league.

It was clear that with = both=20 sides still in contention for the title, the stakes were high, = tackles=20 crashing in with amazing regularity as both sides endeavoured to = gain=20 midfield ascendancy. The personal battle between Chris Forde and=20 Garsingtons star playmaker Liam O'Callogan, a riveting side show = to the=20 main event.

After 25 minutes Keyes should have opened the = scoring=20 for the home side, but with the 'keeper drawn forward, his half = hit shot=20 was comfortably turned away by a covering defender.

After=20 Heritage's early save Garsington were showing little up front, = although=20 when they did, the strength and positional acumen of Wayne = Beauchamp, Matt=20 Ellis and Anthony Akers was more than adequately dealing with = dangerous=20 balls that were being "aided and abetted" by the strong following = wind=20 blowing down the ground.

In fact it was Akers who nearly = opened the=20 scoring in the 40th minute, forcing Dalton to tip over his header = after he=20 had risen like a phoenix to meet a Wyatt free kick.

Right = on the=20 interval came the "miss of the match". Adam Tinkham, who had = enjoyed a=20 quite outstanding first half, again waltzed past Whelan before = delivering=20 to the near post. A defensive miskick allowed the ball to run on = to Forde=20 at the end of another of his lung bursting drives from midfield. = From just=20 four yards he chose to stab at the ball instead of cushioning it = and the=20 ball flew wide, another chance gone for his side to go into the = break one=20 up  following a truly outstanding first half display. H-T=20 0-0.

Chadlington started the second half on the front foot = and=20 deservedly took the lead in the 53rd minute. A perfectly flighted = Wyatt=20 corner from the left found Mark Odom soaring at the far post. His = return=20 header across the face found the irascible Keyes loitering with = his usual=20 intent. One touch, one left foot strike, the home side were one=20 up.

Six minutes later Keyes came close to scoring, and I = quote,=20 "The best goal of my entire career". Picture the scene. Heritage = clears=20 long and Keyes chases hard. Yes, you read it right first time, = Keyes=20 chases hard, watching the balls 60 yard aerial flight like a hawk = watches=20 its prey. The ball drops just outside the box and Keyes is poised, = postitioned, perfectly balanced and in control to deftly catch it = on his=20 instep before quickly changing feet to lob Dalton. It was perfect=20 movement, a moment to savour, but alas a final touch not firm = enough to=20 cross the line, defender Whelan able to recover and scoop it to = safety off=20 a post.

Chadlington were now on the rampage, and with the = midfield=20 battle won, the crowd of 53, plus Bailey, were enjoying a feast of = football from the home side. Unfortunatley for Garsington, their=20 influential midfielder O'Callagan was not digesting the feast = quite so=20 well and after incurring the wrath of referee Steve Higa one too = many=20 times, left the field to contemplate the two yellow cards = inflicted upon=20 him for, how can it be put delicately, "good old fashioned=20 tackling"!

In the 77th minute came Keyes's second. So many = of his=20 goals have come from Odom's ability to exploit space in the right = channel,=20 and after wrong footing Whelan cleverly, the ex-Carterton target = man=20 crossed for "pocket genius" Keyes to turn past Dalton's despairing = hand=20 for his second of the game and sixteenth of the = season.

Three=20 minutes later the game was made safe, Wyatt's free kick from the = left,=20 dummied by Keyes, travelling across the face of the goal to nestle = in the=20 far corner of the net.

With Keyes work complete Dave = Herbert=20 replaced him to play alongside Odom and within two minutes he had = added=20 Chadlington's fourth. It came after a wonderful 40 yard cross = field ball=20 from Alan Shadbolt to Richard McCabe way out on the left = touchline. His=20 pinpoint cross found Herbert who forced it past Dalton and = Chadlington=20 were home by a margin that did certainly not flatter them. They = were=20 simply four goals better and more.

Much can, and should be = written=20 about this Chadlington side and the result should not be under = estimated.=20 On the day everyone performed as Manager Wyatt had asked, the = defence=20 marshalled superbly by sweeper Ellis and upfront Keyes and Odom=20 continually seeking space to create chances. But it was in the = "engine=20 room" that the game was won. The midfield trio of Wyatt, Shadbolt = and=20 Forde ably supported by the energy of wide men Tinkham and McCabe = formed=20 an impenetrable five man barrier to stem the aggression of = Garsington.=20 Chadlington's midfield were simply awesome, a credit to the club = and=20 themselves and the deciding factor for inflicting the heaviest = defeat the=20 Champions had received in three years.

With other results = on=20 Saturday going Chadlington's way the title is now under the = control of=20 Wyatt's men, but it may take twelve points from their remaining = four games=20 to place Chadlington Football Club in the highest level of = football ever=20 acheived in their long and distinguished 96 year history. Next = week it is=20 OUP away, so come along, it's going to be a=20 cracker!!!

Team: Heritage, Akers, McCabe,=20 Shadbolt, Beauchamp, Ellis, R.Wyatt, Forde, Keyes, Odom, Tinkham.=20 Substitutes: Herbert(83), Corbett(90), J.Wyatt.

Man = of the=20 Match: Everyone in contention after a fantastic team = display, but=20 this week=92s selection comes from midfield and a player who = really returned=20 to form after a couple of indifferent performances recently. A = true=20 leader, both on and off the field, Player Manager, ROBBIE=20 WYATT. 

A guy scores, then wants a drink, what = next?ok another=20 goal.

Happy but cold supporters...=20

 

Saturday 5th April 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Chadlington
2
1
 WCOB &=20 Bletchingdon
Keyes,=20 Shadbolte
    

Forde,=20 AkerslipsForde

    
M-O-M Mark Odom
    
Alan Shadbolt - late = winner

Super Sub Shadbolt's Sublime = Strike!=20

A = sensational Alan=20 Shadbolt strike in the last minute of normal time secured a nail = biting=20 victory for Chadlington as they move ever closer in their quest to = win the=20 Oxfordshire Senior League Premiership title.

Results at = this stage=20 of the season are more important than performances, and so it = proved for=20 much of the first half, as Chadlington played second fiddle to a = WCOB and=20 Bletchingdon side clearly fired up to avenge the 6-0 massacre = imposed upon=20 them in early March.

On the half hour mark, WCOB quite = deservedly=20 went ahead, but in a rather bizarre fashion. With the ball cleared = from=20 the Chadlington penalty area there appeared no danger when WCOB's = Paul=20 Faulkner tried a speculative lob from 25 yards. With 6' 2" tall = Nick=20 Heritage back on his line Faulkner's decision to lob looked to be = a poor=20 option, but somehow the lanky 'keeper managed to palm it onto the = bar and=20 spin it back into his own net. Good trick if you can master it and = much to=20 the home side=92s chagrin, Heritage had mastered it! WCOB
were = one=20 up!

Chadlington's first half performance had been = disappointing,=20 with too many passes going astray, too many unnecessary lunges = being made,=20 and too many verbal altercations with beleaguered referee Hodges, = a quiet=20 and sensitive official, light years apart from his namesake in = "Dads=20 Army". A demand of "put those lights out" would have been totally = alien to=20 our "man in black" with a whistle between his lips! H-T=20 0-1

Chadlington improved in the second half, enjoying = territorial=20 advantage, but still most of the action was centred around the = "verbal=20 battle" that was being waged on "Warden Hodge", both sides = constantly=20 castigating him for his laid back approach to, how can we say, the = more=20 physical side of the game.

The encounter was becoming = disjointed,=20 lacking harmony, tempo and flow, a situation much to the benefit = of the=20 rugged WCOB side, a goal up, and hell bent on gaining revenge for = their=20 largest defeat of the season four weeks previous.

In the = 65th=20 minute Mark Corbett, who had battled well to protect his two = central=20 defenders, made way for Alan Shadbolt, allowing extra men to push = forward=20 in search of an equaliser. It came just seven minutes=20 later.

Gaining possession deep in his own half, Wayne = Beauchamp=20 launched a long ball forward to Mark Odom on the right. The = battling,=20 pugnacious striker held off defender Gubbins brilliantly before = setting=20 Lee Keyes free on goal. Now, Keyes may not the most energetic of = players,=20 Chris Forde he is not! But he is ice cool when given opportunities = to=20 score and that is exactly what he did on this occasion. Keeper, = Chris=20 Douglas came, he saw, but didn't conquer; Keyes rolled the ball = past him=20 for his 14th goal of the season and Chadlington =
equaliser.

On=20 75 minutes the WCOB keeper was lucky to stay on the park. Again = Keyes was=20 free on goal, but after knocking it clear of Douglas for a simple = tap in,=20 the keeper introduced him to the hard reality of "terra firma". A = free=20 kick? Definitely. A penalty? Possibly. A red card? Inevitable. A = yellow=20 card? Unbelievable!!

Two minutes later Keyes was in again, = but this=20 time wasted an eight yard header following more good work from = Odom out on=20 the right.

Although it was pretty much one way traffic, = WCOB still=20 weren't finished, and following a break led by the ever lively = Mulcock,=20 Heritage was forced to atone for his earlier error by going low to = his=20 right to beat away the striker's drive.

Chadlington's = response was=20 immediate, for the third time in the game, Player Manager Wyatt = hitting a=20 long range free kick which was again turned away by Douglas. He = really can=20 hit them you know!

Then two minutes before the end of = normal time,=20 Chadlington's torrent of attacks burst the WCOB dam, and in very=20 spectacular fashion. Again Odom was instrumental in the build up, = shaking=20 off Greg Boone's challenge. His precision cross was perfect, = meeting the=20 head of the stampeding Alan Shadbolt at the end of one of his four = yard=20 surges. Not too many players are better in the air than "Wing = Commander"=20 Shadbolt and he didn't disappoint, making no mistake with a six = yard=20 finish.

 "Very similar to Ronaldo's goal against Roma" = exclaimed Alan in the bar afterwards. The great majority begged to = differ,=20 but withheld their views, showing quiet respect for the thoughtful = deep=20 thinking Surveyor who had just secured three points for their = beloved=20 club. You don't mess with Shadbolt when he's notched the winner = and put=20 four Fosters away!!

Eight minutes of injury time were added = on by=20 Mr. Hodge, but by this time the heart and vitriol had left the = WCOB side.=20 From looking likely winners throughout the first half, they had = been=20 unable to stem the Chadlington tide that had created havoc in the = last=20 twenty five minutes of the game.

WCOB will finish the = season mid=20 table. Chadlington are now one point behind second placed = Garsington, with=20 a match in hand, and two games to play against them, the first = being at=20 the Sports Ground this coming Saturday. Things are starting to get = quite=20 hot in the=20 = kitchen!

Team:Heritage,Akers,McCabe,M.Corbett,Beauchamp,Ellis,R.Wy= att,Forde,Keyes,Odom,=20 Tinkham. Subs: Shadbolt(65), J. Wyatt.

Man of the=20 Match. In honesty, not too many contenders this week. = Wayne=20 Beauchamp was strong in defence, Richard McCabe and Adam Tinkham = again=20 consistent and solid. But the heart of this Chadlington side was=20 epitomised by a striker who never stopped running, probing and = battling.=20 He set up both goals and was always available to receive balls up = front.=20 This weeks
M-o-M is MARK=20 ODOM.



Alan Shabolt rises to head the ball... =

..he makes contact and the ball = is on it's=20 way...

..into the back of the net for = the late=20 winner...

 

Saturday 22nd March 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Horspath
0
2
 Chadlington
e
    

Forde,=20 AkerslipsForde

    
M-O-M Matt Ellis
    
Anthony Akers - headed = goal

Horspath Blown Away By = Chadlington Back=20 Line

When climbing Everest, or walking = to the=20 South Pole, intrepid explorers experience fierce biting winds, = sometimes=20 of gale force strength. At Cowley on Saturday they would have = empathised=20 with 22 players endeavouring to play attractive football, for in = the=20 conditions, it was well nigh impossible. However, the main = objective was=20 for Chadlington to return to the Cotswolds with
three points, = and that=20 is exactly what they did!

Enjoying the benefit of a strong = wind in=20 the first half Chadlington were expected to have the majority of = the play,=20 but it was the more lively Horspath side who dictated the early = stages,=20 quicker to the ball and more eager to run into space and even with = the=20 elements in their favour, Robbie Wyatt's men were being pushed = back on=20 their heels and forced to defend for long periods.

Although = Nick=20 Heritage in the visitors=92 goal was not called on to make any = real saves of=20 note it was certainly against the run of play that Chadlington = took the=20 lead in the 24th minute. Adam Tinkham was the architect. After = chasing a=20 long ball down the right, his perfect cross to the far post was = headed=20 back by Lee Keyes for the onrushing Chris Forde to turn in from = close=20 range.
A typical Forde effort after a lung bursting run from=20 halfway.

Two minutes later Chadlington scored again, this = time from=20 a Richard McCabe corner. His superbly flighted cross to the far = post this=20 time saw Anthony Akers rise majestically above the crowd and place = a firm=20 header past the 'keeper for his first goal of the = season.

Although=20 Horspath could consider themselves unlucky to go into the break = two down,=20 the extreme conditions would now be in the favour for the second = period.=20 The question was, would a two goal advantage be enough for = Chadlington?=20 H-T 0-2

Unbelievably, the wind grew in strength as the game = restarted, suitably epitomised by a Heritage goal kick being saved = from=20 going for a corner by a last second desperate lunge by McCabe. = Difficult=20 to imagine but true!

Although Chadlington's goal was under = siege,=20 magnificent defending was stopping Horspath from creating any = clear cut=20 chances, their only accurate finish of note producing a fine one = handed=20 diving save from Heritage.

Certainly Horspath were = dictating play=20 but resilience, heart and courage, now familiar traits in this = Chadlington=20 line up were all coming to the fore as they battled against the=20 opposition, wind, frequent snow and, on too many occasions, = dubious off=20 side decisions from the Horspath linesmen. Add those positive = Chadlington=20 characteristics to a "never say die spirit", well timed =
tackles, brave=20 blocks and hard running and it was clear that Horspath would have = to raise=20 their game above the wind velocity to penetrate Matt Ellis's well=20 marshalled backline.

In the 70th minute came the best = chance of the=20 second half, but for Chadlington, not Horspath. A fine break, = again down=20 the right, saw an early cross fall to the feet of Shaun Gilbert, = leading=20 the line alongside Keyes, in the absence of Mark Odom. After = turning=20 inside the 'keeper he looked certain to score, but not totally = trusting=20 his left foot he turned back again only to see his delayed right = foot=20 strike deflected for an unproductive corner.

Over the 90 = minutes of=20 play Horspath can count themselves unlucky not to have taken = something=20 from the game. But no more unlucky than Chadlington have been in = games at=20 Enstone and Stonesfield when points have been dropped after = dictating=20 play. Football has a strange way of evening things up and on = Saturday it=20 was "pay back time" for Wyatt's battlers.

Games are won by = goals=20 being scored, but they are also saved by quality defensive play = and a=20 quite outstanding second half rear guard action saw Chadlington = home on=20 the day. It started right at the front with Keyes and Gilbert, = permeated=20 through the tireless midfield, past the immense trio of Wayne = Beauchamp,=20 Anthony Akers and Matt Ellis before arriving in the confident =
clean=20 hands of 'keeper Heritage. A true "backs to the wall" team=20 display.

If, just if, Chadlington get anything from this = season,=20 this game, played on the windswept frozen wastes of Cowley will be = remembered as one of the defining moments, when points were = gained, not=20 from playing attractive football, but from guts, character and = sheer=20 bloody mindedness that now oozes through the side. Six games to go = and=20 history to play for!

Team:=20 = Heritage,Akers,McCabe,M.Corbett,Beauchamp,Ellis,R.Wyatt,Forde,Ke= yes,Gilbert
Tinkham.=20 Substitutes: Shadbolt,Herbert,J.Wyatt.

Man of the=20 Match: The three at the centre of the defence were all = Goliaths.=20 Beauchamp's ground play was sure and Akers rising in the air like = a beacon=20 to thwart crosses. But every successful "army" has a General = overseeing=20 skirmishes, and the Chadlington sweeper was that General. His = organisation=20 was first class, his reading of the game superb, and his = interceptions=20 timely and controlled. Looked a bit like the late, great Bobby=20 Moore!  This weeks Man of
the Match, MATT ELLIS.=20

 

=

Saturday 15th March 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Chadlington
4
1
 Eynsham
L = Keys (2), o.g=20 (2)e
    

PhillipsForde

    
Robbie Wyatt - 2 goals =
   
Shaun Gilbert - nearly scored =

Chadlington=20 Move Into Top Three

Wins against high flying = teams are=20 important to Chadlington, and Saturday's 4-1 drubbing of Eynsham = was very=20 special, particularly after dropping two league points earlier in = the=20 season and losing to them by the odd goal in the Ben Turner Cup. = Revenge?=20 No, not at all, just putting the record straight!

In the = first 30=20 minutes, chances for both sides were few and far between, except = for two=20 long range drives from Robbie Wyatt flying wide. Then, in the 35th = minute=20 Chadlington struck, taking advantage of the speed of wing man = Shaun=20 Gilbert. Breaking clear of the brave and intrepid defender = Gallant, he=20 raced down the right before delivering his cross. There looked = little=20 danger until the ball struck centre back Jerrerd and wrong footed = 'keeper=20 Woolford, before settling comfortably in the net at the near post. = Gilbert's goal? Sadly no, as his cross looked more likely to end = up on the=20 cricket square than in the "onion bag"!!

Eight minutes = later it was=20 two, with another goal designed in similar fashion to the first. = This=20 time, Robbie Wyatt chased an apparent "lost cause" down the right = before=20 evading two hopeful defensive lunges. Moving into the box, along = the dead=20 ball line, he hit a low ball to the near post. This time, no = Jerrerd, just=20 Woolford, fumbling the ball over the line for Chadlington's = second. Former=20 Liverpool goal-keeper Bruce Grobelaar would have been proud of = Woolford,=20 it didn't look at all intentional! H-T 2-0

Early in the = second half=20 Eynsham got back into the game, which, in fairness, they never = looked like=20 winning. After an "adult pinball" impression in the Chadlington = six yard=20 box the ball seemed to have been gathered by debutant 'keeper = Chris=20 Panter. However, the wet ball squirmed free to the feet of = Phillips who=20 made no mistake from close range.

With 35 minutes remaining = the=20 game was now finely balanced. Would Chadlington succumb to the = visitors=20 renewed efforts or would they stand firm and continue to play the = kind of=20 football that Manager Wyatt demands? Stupid question really, for = it only=20 took four minutes for them to regain their two goal = advantage.

A=20 ball was delivered forward to the left edge of the Eynsham penalty = area to=20 the feet of Lee Keyes. He prefers balls to feet as he doesn't like = to run=20 on a stomach full of tea. What he does prefer to do however is = come alive=20 in the box and that is precisely what he did on this occasion. = Rolling his=20 marker, he had sights on goal before being unceremoniously = upended.=20 Referee Ken Smith, who had a good game, had no choice but to point = to the=20 spot. Penalty! Lee Keyes had no
choice either. After checking = that no=20 mud remained on his XL white shorts he despatched his spot kick = wide of=20 Woolford for Chadlington's third.

Twenty minutes from time = came=20 Chadlington's fourth, and Keyes's second. Again the little = marksman found=20 space on the left and moved in on the near post. His first attempt = was=20 blocked but his second effort, which was firmer, deflected by = Woolford at=20 the near post into the back of the net to put the game beyond = Eynsham's=20 reach. The "ghost of Bruce" was back to haunt Woolford and=20 Eynsham!

Keyes, along with fellow striker Mark Odom, had = troubled=20 the Eynsham defence all afternoon but clearly not the Chadlington = laundry=20 lady, Keyes XL's remaining a pristine white throughout! A = considerate man=20 is our Lee!

With a three goal deficit, Eynsham threw = caution to the=20 wind and pushed men forward. However, the home defence stood firm, = tackling relentlessly and blocking to great effect, Panter only = once being=20 called upon to make a save, albeit a brilliant tip over from a = shot=20 destined for the top left corner. Possibly, the save of the season = so=20 far.

Except for that one effort, Eynsham played similarly = to=20 Premiership look-alikes Derby County. Same strip, lots of huff and = puff=20 but no end product. With a man named Panter in Chadlington's goal, = no=20 silly huff and puff would trouble him, the hosts could breath=20 easy!

So, another victory for Wyatt's men, their seventh=20 consecutive game without defeat. Over the last couple of games = they have=20 looked a very very useful side with the defensive diamond of Matt = Ellis,=20 Wayne Beauchamp, Anthony Akers and Mark Corbett gelling solidly = and well.=20 Wyatt also looks more comfortable, "freed up" in midfield with his = trusty=20 batman Private Forde alongside him putting in the miles. The = versatility=20 of Richard McCabe and Shaun Gilbert were also major contributors = to this=20 victory, the latter especially so with his speed going forward and = his=20 recovery powers in defence. Keyes and Odom also compliment each = other=20 perfectly upfront, Keyes having regained his jaunty ways even if = his=20 tongue does slip into overtime occasionally.

In Chris = Panter, Wyatt=20 has certainly found an exceptional substitute for goal- keeper = Nick=20 Heritage. His handling was superb, his instructions relayed with = total=20 clarity, his distribution just about perfect. There can not have = been many=20 better goal-keeping debuts seen at the Sports Ground, that's for=20 sure!

Now, just seven games, 630 minutes (plus time added = on)=20 remain to decide Chadlington's fate, four of them at home. Looks = like=20 being an interesting Spring time in the=20 village!

Team:=20 = Panter,Akers,McCabe,M.Corbett,Beauchamp,Ellis,R.Wyatt,Forde,Keyes,Odom,Gilbert.=20 Substitutes: Herbert(80),Shadbolt, J.Wyatt.

Man of = the=20 Match: Another close call due to the excellent team = performance,=20 everyone a deserving cause. But consider this, against a side = third in the=20 league it was vital Chadlington were sound at the back, defenders=20 confident that they had quality and experience behind them. They = had that,=20 and more in Man of the Match - CHRIS=20 = PANTER. 

 

Saturday 8th March 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

WCOB & Bletchingdon=20
0
6
 Chadlington
L Keys (4), D Herbert = (2), WDawes=20 e
    

Keyes, Tinkham, M.Corbett, Wyatt, Forde, = HerbertA Shadbolt, C Forde

    
M-O-M - Robbie = Wyatt
    
Chris Forde - scored = goal

=91Masters=92 Give College = Boys Severe=20 Beating

A pretty voluptuous girl, a pint of lager on a = hot=20 summer=92s day, chips eaten out of newspaper, freshly laundered = sheets. All=20 experiences that give pleasure. To me anyway. Chadlington fans = watching=20 the =93caning=94 of Worcester College Old Boys last Saturday could = now add one=20 more to their own personal list of favourites. Without doubt it = was really=20 a pleasurable experience to see =93six of the best=94 administered = clinically=20 by =93Masters of Art=94!!

In the first period, Chadlington, benefiting = from the=20 strong wind, probed and pressed for 20 minutes without creating = any real=20 cutting edge chances. Then they struck in magnificent style, = Robbie Wyatt=20 and Richard McCabe combined beautifully to set Lee Keyes free in = the left=20 channel. In this situation nobody finishes better than Keyes and = again he=20 didn=92t disappoint, his left foot drive across Douglas giving the = =92keeper=20 no chance.

Four minutes later it was two. Again McCabe = was=20 involved, this time with a quick throw to Keyes. This time, = Douglas was=20 only able to parry the little striker=92s effort but Adam Tinkham = was on=20 hand to net the rebound from eight yards. A good opportunist=92s = finish.=20

Chadlington were now in complete control, = looking secure=20 at the back with the new defensive formation of Matt Ellis, Wayne=20 Beauchamp and Anthony Akers gelling well, and truly dynamic in the = centre=20 of midfield where the =93all action=94 trio of Wyatt, Chris Forde = and Mark=20 Corbett, the latter making his first start of the season, in = complete=20 control.

It came as no surprise when a third goal = arrived on 35=20 minutes following a blistering free kick from Manager Wyatt. Again = Douglas=20 could only parry but up popped Corbett to finish from close range = to cap a=20 great display.

A three goal lead was richly deserved against = a useful=20 team that had won at Garsington and secured a double over = Adderbury Park=20 but on the stroke of half-time it increased to four. Again Wyatt = was=20 instrumental, this time with a virtuoso goal. Following a = defensive mix up=20 he gathered the ball fully 25 yards out, flicked it over the head = of=20 Gubbins before lashing a drive wide of Douglas. This time, no = parry, no=20 nothing, just a leather sphere hitting net! Memorable! H-T 0-4 =

An early goal from WCOB & Bletchingdon = after the=20 break would have made the game interesting, especially as the wind = was=20 gathering in velocity in favour of the home side. Sadly for the = hosts=20 though it was Chadlington who scored it, not them, Forde once = again=20 getting on the score sheet with a 20yard effort fumbled over the = line by=20 the hapless Douglas.

In the 70 th minute Dave Herbert replaced = Keyes upfront=20 and within 8 minutes had scored Chadlington=92s sixth. Shaun = Gilbert, on for=20 Tinkham, made ground down the right before sending in a low cross = to the=20 near post. Herbert=92s diving header was good enough to evade = Douglas, the=20 final goal completing a great day of accurate finishing for the = =93boys in=20 blue=94.

Before referee Walsh blew for time came = arguably the=20 finish of the game albeit with no reward. From fully 40 yards and = against=20 the wind Wyatt hit a free kick. Now, normally a ball hit into the = wind=20 rises sharply before losing speed and falling. Not when Wyatt hits = them.=20 Like an exocet missile this one rose to all of four feet then = stayed at=20 that height as it arrowed in on its target. Alas, the strike of = the day=20 was not the goal of the day, no parry, no fumble from the = =91keeper, just a=20 right hand post saving WCOB from conceding a =93Magnificent = Seven=94!

What can be said about Chadlington=92 = performance? Well,=20 plenty. In almost gale force conditions and on a hard, bumpy = surface they=20 played football to an extraordinarily high level for 90 minutes. = Without=20 doubt their best display of the season.

With Ellis sweeping majestically behind = Beauchamp and=20 Akers they were rocklike at the back, rarely troubled by Mulcock = and=20 Gaughn. The unsung heroes, Tinkham and McCabe got through a = tremendous=20 amount of work on the flanks and Keyes and Mark Odom were always = too=20 clever and lively to be tamed. Nick Heritage enjoyed a trouble = free=20 afternoon between the posts, only called on occasionally to field = long=20 through balls. In summary, every ones performance was of the = highest=20 calibre.

But, on the day, the true inspiration, = strength and=20 drive was generated by the midfield powerhouse trio of Wyatt, = Forde and=20 Corbett. Out of possession they chased, harried and spoilt. In = possession,=20 they passed accurately, ran off the ball and dovetailed = brilliantly,=20 completely over and out running their opposite numbers.

Chadlington=92s demolition of WCOB and = Bletchingdon will=20 raise quite a few eyebrows throughout the league and make next = weeks home=20 encounter with Eynsham a game not to be missed.

In a perfect world it would be nice to bottle = some of=20 the quality that was seen at Bletchingdon on Saturday. If that was = possible I would even swap the pretty voluptuous girl and freshly=20 laundered sheets for it. The lager and chips? Ask me after the = game!

Team: Heritage, Akers, = McCabe, M.=20 Corbett, Beauchamp, Ellis, R. Wyatt, Forde, Keyes, Odom, Tinkham.=20 Substitutes: Herbert (70), Gilbert (74)

Man of the Match: Mark = Corbett was=20 tremendous in his midfield holding role. Crisp tackling, timely=20 interceptions and simple passes. Chris Forde ran and harassed for = a=20 distance of 12 miles 254 yards. No record was kept of his second = half=20 distance! But this week's Man of the Match award = goes to=20 Player Manager ROBBIE WYATT. After a barren few = weeks he=20 was back to his best giving indisputably his strongest performance = of the=20 season. He was sublime. High work rate, crunching tackles, space=20 awareness, long and short passing and laser like finishing. Have I = missed=20 anything?

 

Saturday 1st March 2008
Oxfordshire Senior = League -=20 Premier Division

Bardwell
1
1
 Chadlington
L Keys (4), D Herbert = (2), WDawes = e
     M=20 Odomeys, A Shadbolt, C Forde
    
M-O-M - Mark Odom
    
Wayne Beauchamp - = injured

Chadlington Curse Post = Strike

Chadlington suffered another = massive blow to=20 their ambitions on Saturday when their lack lustre display could = only=20 produce a point at relegation threatened BCS Bardwell.

Besides failing to find a winner = in a one=20 sided second half they also lost key defender Wayne Beauchamp late = in the=20 game with what looked like a serious knee injury. He looks likely = to join=20 current absentees Gary Murphy and Danny Cleevely on the long term = injury=20 list, another severe blow to Robbie Wyatt=92s team who have failed = to take=20 maximum points from struggling teams for the second week running. =

The game started brightly for = Chadlington=20 with recalled wide man Shaun Gilbert exploiting Bardwell=92s lack = of pace=20 down the right flank. On eight minutes another penetrating run = from him=20 saw him upended by Loyde, referee Disley having no hesitation in = pointing=20 to the spot. Up stepped leading scorer Lee Keyes to administer the = =93coup=20 de grace=94 only to see his poorly hit shot to Kelly=92s right = easily turned=20 away by the =91keeper. How Chadlington would come to rue that = missed=20 opportunity!

Despite Bardwell=92s lowly = position in the=20 league they were having more of the play and with the wind on = their backs=20 were playing much the better football against a visiting side = looking=20 decidedly =93out of sorts=94 for the second week in a row.

After 35 minutes the home side = deservedly=20 took the lead when Nix got behind the defence down the right and = crossed=20 for Dawes. His strong cross shot gave Nick Heritage no chance, the = goal=20 being a fair reflection of the home sides superiority.

Lethargy was still =93coursing = through the=20 veins=94 of the Chadlington players as they continued to play = second fiddle=20 to a side that they had =93murdered=94 7-0 only four weeks = earlier. They=20 seemed incapable of creating a worthwhile chance against a defence = that=20 had already leaked 50 goals in 14 games.

Against the run of play = Chadlington got back=20 into the game on the brink of half-time with a surprise goal. = There=20 appeared little danger for Bardwell when Striker Mark Odon went = deep to=20 collect a ball out of defence. After side stepping Fry he then = moved=20 forward to hit a speculative shot from 30 yards, more in hope than = expectation. Normally Kelly, still fresh from his world class = display=20 against Chadlington in early February would have saved = comfortably, but on=20 this occasion he moved slowly and allowed Odom=92s drive to evade = his=20 grasping fingers. The visitors were back in the game and into the = break on=20 level terms. H-T 1-1.

With the strong breeze on their = backs=20 Chadlington burst into life in the second half and within a minute = achieved something that they would go on to achieve a total of = four times=20 in the next 45 minutes. They hit the woodwork!!!

Chris Forde was first, bursting = into the box=20 in characteristic style before unleashing a drive that Kelly = turned on to=20 the bar. Then in the space of minutes four more excellent chances = were=20 spurned as Chadlington took total control, Keyes being the main = offender,=20 unable to hit the target on three occasions when well placed.

Wyatt=92s revised 3-5-2 formation = was now=20 allowing Chadlington to dictate but poor finishing, bad luck and = another=20 superb display from Kelly were keeping the scores level.

In the 67 th minute came the = highlight of the=20 game (but no happy ending) when in true =93Brazilian style=94 Alan = Shadbolt=20 after receiving the ball outside the box, flicked it up and half = volleyed=20 in one beautiful movement only to see it crash against Kelly=92s = post and=20 away to safety. A magical moment in a desert of mediocrity!

Four minutes later it happened = again. This=20 time Beauchamp=92s cross from the right found Odom towering above = the=20 defence, his bullet header, well you=92ve guessed it, coming back = off the=20 bar before being ushered to safety by the grateful Simpson.

Fifteen minutes from the close = the post=20 strike became the ultimate bore when Forde=92s header rebounded = from the bar=20 following McCabe's cross.

So the game ended level and = another two=20 points were lost to a desperate team that had fielded several of = their=20 Reserve team who had been forced to disband due to lack of = numbers. Yes,=20 it was that bad!

Hitting the woodwork four times = can certainly=20 be classed as unlucky but it cannot hide the fact that this = Chadlington=20 side were simply outplayed in the first session and missed a = hatful of=20 opportunities in the second. A split second of composure and one = point=20 would have been three!

Not for the first time have = points been=20 dropped due to errant finishing. Not for the first time have goals = been=20 conceded due to slack marking. Not for the first time has there = been an=20 unwillingness by some players to give =93their all=94 for the club = and battle=20 it out with less skilled opponents who are prepared to run and = tackle=20 enthusiastically for their cause. And not for the first time have = vital=20 points been dropped and retarded Chadlington=92s climb up the = league!

Seven draws from fifteen games = are making=20 Chadlington the draw specialists of the league and draw = specialists don=92t=20 win titles. It=92s now become a recurring problem for Rookie = Manager Wyatt=20 and he will have some sombre days ahead as he plans for the short = trip to=20 WCOB & Bletchingdon this coming Saturday.

Team: Heritage, Akers, McCabe, = Ellis,=20 Beauchamp, Shadbolt, Gilbert, Forde, Keyes, Odom, Tinkham. = Substitutes:=20 R.Wyatt (75), J.Wyatt (86).

M-O-M: A simple = task this=20 week as many of the players turned in below par performances. One = player=20 did stand out however and his hard working =93never say die=94 = attitude was an=20 abject lesson to his team mates on how to approach games against = lesser=20 opposition. His skill levels were high and his goal richly = deserved. A=20 simple choice, Mark Odom is = this weeks=20 Man of the Match.=20

 

Saturday 23rd February 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Chadlington
2
2
 OUP
L Keys (4), D Herbert = (2), W D Herbert,L=20 Keyese
     L Keys, A = Shadbolt, C=20 Forde
    
M-O-M - Nick = Heritage
    
Lee Keyes - scored from = penalty=20 spot

Point = Salvaged In=20 Brave Second Half Fightback

In the high winds of the = Cotswolds and=20 an exposed Sports Ground, Chadlington battled back from a two goal = deficit=20 to share the points with OUP, surely on this display, one of the = most=20 under-rated sides in the league.

OUP came into the game = with the=20 unenviable record of ten defeats in their eighteen starts, = although=20 amazingly, only Garsington had scored more goals than = them.

It took=20 only 13 minutes for OUP to add to their total. Robbie Wyatt was = penalised=20 for a high challenge and the aerial artillery of the visitors = crowded the=20 penalty box for the free kick. Slack marking and good movement = paid off=20 for them when Carter's astute ball found Spooner at the near post. = His=20 header from eight yards gave Nick Heritage no = chance!

Chadlington=20 were finding it hard to make progress against an uncompromising = defence=20 assisted by a gusty wind blowing down the ground and clear chances = were=20 difficult to engineer. One came in the 27th minute when Lee Keyes = wriggled=20 free in the area, but his well struck left foot shot, although = beating=20 Hamling, came back off the base of the post.

Although the = game was=20 even it was clear that Chadlington were not at their best, = struggling to=20 cope with the conditions, unable to find any tempo and misplacing = passes=20 at an alarming rate. OUP were stifling Wyatt's efforts to "kick = start" his=20 team into life, with Allen, Kilpin and Carter all frustrating the = hosts=20 with their work rate and telling tackles.

Strangely, = considering=20 their own defensive record, Chadlington looked vulnerable at the = back,=20 finding it a problem dealing with the clever off the ball movement = of=20 Wright and Spooner. This proved their undoing in the 43rd minute = when OUP=20 added to their total. A diagonal ball found Spooner free of = Anthony Akers=20 and with Richard McCabe caught forward the big striker was left = with a=20 clear run on goal. His sharp finish was too good for Heritage and = the=20 visitors went into the break with a two goal advantage. H-T = 0-2.

It=20 was vitally important for Chadlington to get back in the game = quickly if=20 they were to take anything from the match and this they duly did = just a=20 minute after the restart. It happened in quite a bizarre way with = some=20 help from mother nature! Adam Tinkham broke clear on the right and = delivered a knee height cross to Dave Herbert. The "little man's" = stooping=20 header looked to be safely gathered by 'keeper Hamling but a = combination=20 of the uneven surface, stiff wind and maybe a touch of "Herbert = back spin"=20 made the 'keeper fumble and help the ball into the net. = Chadlington were=20 back in the game.

Despite Chadlington now having the = majority of=20 the play OUP were still dangerous ensuring that Heritage was = having his=20 busiest game of the season. Usually intermittent crosses and = occasional=20 shots are his Saturday fare but this day was different. More than = once he=20 was called on to move smartly off his line to block strikes, his = big body=20 and clean handling keeping his side in the hunt as they threw = caution to=20 the wind driving forward in search of the elusive=20 equaliser.

Although Alan Shadbolt came on up front for = Herbert in=20 the 72nd minute in an all or nothing approach it still looked as = though=20 the hosts would fall short in their quest to rescue anything from = the=20 game. Then, ten minutes from time Lee Keyes did what he does best. = Collecting the ball on the left of the penalty area he squirmed = past Gray=20 before setting himself for a shot at goal. That idea was = immediately=20 quashed by a despairing lunge which referee Fisher adjudged to be = illegal.=20 From the resulting spot kick Keyes did what he has already done = nine times=20 in his previous five starts, he scored! Chadlington were level and = the=20 points shared.

There can be no doubt that Chadlington can = play=20 better than Saturday=92s peformance. With few exceptions nobody = looked truly=20 comfortable on the ball which resulted in too many passes and = crosses=20 going astray. That sharp cutting edge was missing.

However, = it does=20 take a team with character to come back from a two goal deficit = and that=20 is what Chadlington possess. A team with character. Heads didn't = drop,=20 nobody stopped running, everyone had had it instilled in them by = Manager=20 Wyatt that they could redress the balance. And that is what they = so nearly=20 did. In fact given another ten minutes it was highly likely that = they=20 would have gone on to win the game.

But it was a = frustrating=20 afternoon with an unexpected loss of two points making the March = games=20 with BCS Bardwell, WCOB & Bletchingdon, Eynsham and Horspath = all the=20 more important. Many people feel that the month of March will be a = defining period in Chadlington's quest for the league title. They = could=20 well be right!

Team:=20 = Heritage,Akers,McCabe,Ellis,Beauchamp,Odom,R.Wyatt,Forde,Keyes,Herbert,Ti= nkham.
Subs:Shadbolt(72),=20 J.Wyatt(83),Fitzgerald.

M-O-M: = Not too=20 many candidates this week and a decision made easy by
the = display by=20 Chadlington's goalkeeper Nick Heritage. His handling of crosses =
was=20 sound, his shot stopping secure. But, most of all, his rushes from = his=20 line
to block "one on ones" were superbly timed and enabled = his team=20 to stay in the
game. Without doubt, this weeks = "Man of the=20 Match", Nick=20 Heritage.

 

Saturday 16th February 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Chadlington
1
0
 Enstone
L Keys (4), D Herbert = (2), W C = Fordee
     L Keys, A = Shadbolt, C=20 Forde
    
M-O-M Wayne Beauchamp =
   
Dave Herbert - pace a = threat

Forde Focus Drives = Chadlington=20 Home

In perfect playing conditions and = in front of=20 a near capacity crowd of 103 including =93programme hunters=94 = from=20 Peterborough and London but excluding a small dog, presumed lost,=20 Chadlington achieved their most important win of the season to = date when=20 they defeated Enstone 1 =96 0 with a Chris Forde goal.

Just prior to kick off the = village was=20 gridlocked, such was the anticipation and expectation of this = local derby=20 and whilst spectators weren=92t exactly hanging from trees to = catch a=20 glimpse of their heroes, for the first time this season the = overflow car=20 park in Chapel Row was doing good business.

Chadlington started impressively, = looking to=20 exploit Enstone=92s static back line with balls into the channels. = Dave=20 Herbert=92s pace was proving to be a threat, a problem that would = haunt the=20 visitors for the duration of the game.

Then, in the 16 th minute came a = blow to=20 Robbie Wyatt=92s men. In a clash with Enstone striker Watkins, = veteran=20 defender Gary Murphy took a bad knock on his knee. After prolonged = and=20 expert physio from the medical team, he was pronounced =91lame=92. = Even a=20 remedial and pain killing fag could not change Murphy=92s = condition so not=20 only was he forced to miss the final 74 minutes of the game he = also=20 reluctantly had to accept that his dancing days were to be put on = ice for=20 the foreseeable future. Matt Ellis replaced him with Wyatt wisely=20 reforming his team to a more orthodox 4=964=962 system.

Despite Murphy=92s absence, = Chadlington drove=20 forward relentlessly but could not find the elusive opening goal, = first=20 Lee Keyes (pictured below) missing from close range following = Herbert=92s=20 cross, then Wyatt having an 18 yard blockbuster pushed away by = Orford.=20

The game was now fiery with = tackles aplenty,=20 referee Harvey finding it difficult to retain control despite, the = vocal=20 assistance he was receiving from Keyes. Selfishly, =93the man in = black=94=20 eventually decided to control the game by himself and after = thanking Keyes=20 for his efforts showed him a nice shiny yellow card that = he had been=20 hiding in his pocket. Keyes had already seen a yellow card after = helping=20 the referee the previous week but did not tell Mr Harvey that! He = knew=20 that if he did Mr Harvey would have shown him a red card that he = kept in=20 his other pocket. He also knew that he would be sent to the = =91naughty=20 chair=92 until all his friends had finished playing their games. = He didn=92t=20 want to miss out on the games and didn=92t like the =93naughty = chair=94 so he=20 went very quiet. Mr. Harvey went away. Nice Mr. Harvey!

Enstone=92s Mahoney was next to = see the=20 referee=92s coloured cards after a late tackle on Wyatt, one of = the many=20 clashes experienced as the visitors struggled to contain a home = side=20 playing good football but failing to convert chances.

On a good day Chadlington could, = and possibly=20 should, have been two goals to the good by half-time but after = Keyes had=20 headed over from an Adam Tinkham cross they went into the break = clearly in=20 control of the game but with the scores still even. H-T 0 =96 0. =

In the second period Chadlington = continued to=20 maintain their dominance, Mark Odom, Chris Forde and Wyatt all = adding=20 weight to the diminutive strike force of Herbert and Keyes. First = Herbert=20 went close with an eight yard snap shot that Orford parried, then = Keyes=20 fired a left foot drive over from the edge of the box after Forde = had won=20 his 63 rd tackle of the afternoon!

Then history was made at the = Sports Ground.=20 Linesman Allen reported the crowd for making a noise. Yes you = heard it=20 right the first time, for making a noise! All over the world = klaxons and=20 air horns are used at sporting events but evidently = environmentally=20 friendly Mr Allen does not feel they should lower the tone of = sleepy=20 Chadlington nestled safely in the bosom of the Cotswolds. = Admittedly the=20 horn went off approximately two and three quarter inches away from = his=20 left ear but that=92s a mere detail. Where=92s your sense of = humour man,=20 you=92re an entertainer there to please the crowd not to stifle = enthusiasm!!=20

With the crowd in hysterics, = remember they=20 had not had a goal to cheer and in fairness were getting a tad = restless,=20 the referee, in sombre mood, abdicated responsibility for the = action that=20 needed to be taken.

He summoned Chairman Duester on = to the field=20 resplendently decked with a rather expensive camera on a string = around his=20 neck. =93This is no time for a =91head and shoulders=92 shot=94 = shouted a=20 bystander, not helping what was turning out to be a situation = emulating a=20 Brian Rix Whitehall farce of the 60=92s.

I swear the Chairman was = desperately trying=20 to stifle a smirk as he received a briefing from the referee on = =93horn and=20 flag=94 etiquette but duly did as requested. As sternly as = possible and=20 still with camera in place he lectured the =93baying mob=94 on = upholding the=20 clubs sporting traditions concerning fair play etc. Personally, I = lost=20 interest when he began with =93We were founded in 1912=85=85.=94. = Who would be a=20 Chairman?

Fair play? Sportsmanship? When = the game is=20 scoreless that is what the officials are there for, to be an = amusing=20 diversion from reality. It could have been worse, no toilet rolls = were=20 thrown. Nobody got hurt, deafened yes, but not hurt!

As a post script, a short time = later it was=20 revealed that a certain Mr. =93J=94 (I am unable to reveal his = full name due=20 to legal reasons) had a bulge in his trousers that resembled a = horn but no=20 one was brave enough to carry out a body search. Guilty or just = over=20 excited? Search me!

On the park the one way traffic = continued=20 with Chadlington superior in every department, playing fine, fast, = attractive football, providing full value to both regular and = transient=20 followers alike. Tinkham screwed wide after Herbert had headed on = a long=20 ball and with the game fast moving into its final quarter it = looked as=20 though Enstone would be taking from the game an undeserved point, = as they=20 did a few weeks previously.

Then, 15 minutes from time came = the=20 breakthrough that brought the crowd to their feet. Tinkham broke = cleverly=20 on the right and delivered a fine ball to Keyes. His mis-hit shot = looked=20 to be trickling to safety and another chance gone begging. But not = in the=20 eyes of the =93Thunderbolt kid=94 aka Chris Forde. With lunchtime = bacon sarnie=20 kicking into overdrive he was first to react, another lung = bursting run=20 from halfway about to pay dividends. An outstretched toe, a = stranded=20 keeper caught in =93no mans land=94 and a round leather ball = rolling, oh so=20 gently, into the net from 15 yards was enough to set the locals, = now with=20 silenced horn, screaming. Chadlington were one up and on their way = to=20 victory!

But that was only the start of = the drama. An=20 incident was unfolding in the crowd packed densely on the far = touchline.=20 Something completely out of character was occurring, generated by = one of=20 the village=92s oldest citizens. The goal had triggered a surge of = adrenalin=20 in an 89 year old gentleman, a gentleman who regularly attends = Chadlington=20 matches home and away. I refuse to divulge the gentleman=92s full = name so I=20 will simply call him =93Edward=94.

Edward was causing trouble. = Spectators were=20 being pushed and jostled; they were surging forward to escape the=20 unprovoked violence. It seemed highly likely that there would be a = pitch=20 invasion, maybe even a riot. But then =93Edward=94, a wily = campaigner, sensing=20 the error of his ways, realised that he could =93do a stretch=94 = if found out.=20 Suddenly his self-preservation instincts kicked in. =93 Go down = Edward=94, he=20 thought, =93Put Plod off the scent=94. So, he did, he did go down, = he did go=20 to ground. We now have a scene where the oldest feral thug in = Chadlington=20 is not only diverting attention away from his truly wicked act he = is now=20 courting sympathy as kind-hearted friends help him to his feet. =

Banishment from the stadium and = possibly a=20 night in Chipping Norton police cells was only avoided by his = speed of=20 thought and cunning. =93Edward=94 I salute you, if only the lads = on the park=20 could think as quickly as you!

Riots of a similar nature were = also taking=20 place in the pitch where Chadlington were celebrating their goal. = Forde=20 was being mobbed by grateful and appreciative teammates delighted = that=20 their barren goal hunt had ended. Some were quite emotional and, = yes,=20 there were tears.

Only Nick Heritage and Richard = McCabe=20 (pictured below) refrained from joining the scrummage of well- = wishers.=20 No problems there though. Both are on speaking terms = with=20 Forde, it=92s just that neither of them has found it necessary to = develop it=20 into a physical relationship. It will come when it=92s ready, = I=92ll keep you=20 posted.

So, another great win for = Wyatt=92s men, their=20 third in consecutive games with eleven goals scored and none = conceded.=20 They played well for the entire 90 minutes and looked solid in = midfield=20 and high energy up front. The only criticism would be their = wayward=20 finishing, but why be churlish after such a splendid performance = on a=20 momentous day.

Wyatt=92s a happier man these = days. He knows he=20 has a large squad capable of dealing with injuries or lapses in = form. He=20 knows he has a power-house midfield who can =93put in the = graft=94. He knows=20 he has pace and proven goal scorers up front. Most importantly = though, he=20 knows he has a team that play for each other and fight to the = death. He=20 knows he has a true team!

Team: Heritage, Akers, McCabe, = Murphy,=20 Beauchamp, Odom, R.Wyatt, Forde, Keyes, Herbert, Tinkham. = Substitutes:=20 Ellis(16), J.Wyatt, Fitzgerald.

M-O-M : = Always=20 difficult after such a sound team performance. Chris Forde will = always=20 feature with his high-octane performances, especially when he = scores. But=20 this week the award goes to Wayne = Beauchamp.=20 After Gary Murphy left the field Wayne took over the = =93General=92s=94 role in=20 defence commanding his troops with great authority and skill. As = always,=20 his heading and tackling were of the highest quality. Yet another = case of=20 a =93General=94 leading his troops from the rear!!

The ball is in the net and Chris Forde goes to = ground in=20 celebration - Who's that with
raised arms in the background? =

Happy team return to play after the goal

Home supporters wrapped up warm and waiting = for=20 goal..

and finally...
Alan Burgess (left) = and Barry=20 Butler visiting
from Peterborough=20

Saturday 9th February 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Watlington
0
3
 Chadlington
L Keys (4), D Herbert = (2), W=20 Beauchamp
    L Keys, A = Shadbolt, C=20 Forde
    
M-O-M Robbie Wyatt
    
Chris Forde - 1st goal of the = season=20

Sunshine Cruise For=20 Chadlington

Robbie Wyatt's boys soon = shook off=20 any travel fatigue after undertaking the 36 mile journey east to=20 Watlington on Saturday, comfortably winning by three clear goals = with=20 wonderful strikes from Lee Keyes, Alan Shadbolt and Chris = Forde.

On=20 an uncommonly warm day for February, Wyatt fielded an unchanged = starting=20 eleven for the first time this season against a Watlington side = fighting=20 to retain their place in the Premier league.

Early = encounters were=20 even on a pitch that had more bumps than a blind man driving in a = stock=20 car race, encouraging the local wag, no doubt recently ejected = from the=20 nearby hostelry to emit the classic line, " This bumpy pitch is a = great=20 leveller" A slip of the tongue or true wit? Difficult to say in = rural=20 Watlington. But you know, he was spot on, it was a great=20 leveller.

That extra touch was always necessary, a = discipline that=20 did not suit Chadlington's quick passing game, the slower pace = giving=20 Watlington time to recover, time to reposition, time to=20 tackle.

However, it didn't take long for Chadlington to = take the=20 conditions into account, Gary Murphy and Adam Tinkham combining = well down=20 the right on numerous occasions to deliver telling balls into = Watlington's=20 danger areas. This tactic paid off in the 17th minute when another = well=20 flighted ball from Murphy found Lee Keyes "loitering with intent" = outside=20 the far post.

Keyes hunched shoulders shuddered, his eyes = flashed,=20 his nostrils twitched, he could sense something close that he = wanted=20 badly, very badly. His whole being was searching out his prey. = Then he saw=20 it, just ten yards away and stationery, eight yards wide and eight = feet=20 high. I swear it was completely unaware that marksman Keyes was = stalking=20 it. But stalking it he was. He moved, stealthily at first, inside = one=20 marker, then another, positioning himself perfectly for the =
eventual=20 strike. He had now arrived at the ideal spot. He was ready. BANG! = His low=20 shot to 'keeper Stubbs's near post was fast and true, his radar = and=20 predatory instincts precise. One "bullet" one target, one goal!=20

"My job is done, my work complete", he murmured quietly, = his head=20 nodding knowingly, "Let the fun commence"!! H-T 0-1

The fun = commenced just eight minutes after the break when Chadlington = added a=20 second. Again it was the threat down the right with Tinkham once = more=20 turning the quaintly named Bertie Proctor inside out. Wasn't he = the second=20 cousin of Lord Peter Wimsey? But, I digress. Tinkham hit the dead = ball=20 line before delivering his cross. Then, what can only be described = as a=20 blue blur moving at great speed came into view and connected with = his=20 (it's) head from eight yards.
Again Stubbs's near post was = exposed=20 like a lap dancer entertaining a lottery winner. The header was on = target,=20 mission accomplished. 2-0 to Chadlington!

It took several = minutes=20 to identify the scorer due to the speed of movement and piercing = sunlight=20 but the scorched footprints on the turf eventually led your trusty = scribe=20 to "old stalwart" Alan Shadbolt who, under questioning, modestly = admitted=20 guilt. "Yes, it was me" he whispered, "I know I am not allowed to = go into=20 the box but I did do it right didn't I"? "Yes my son, you = did"!

As=20 a reward, in the 56th minute both Shadbolt (chest still puffed) = and Matt=20 Ellis (chest still puffing) were "rested" allowing Dave Herbert = and Mark=20 Odom to continue with the bombardment on the home goal. It was one = way=20 traffic now. In honesty a goal looked likely with every attack but = a=20 combination of good goal-keeping from Stubbs, good fortune for = Watlington=20 and "good gracious, how did I miss that" from Keyes, Herbert, Odom = and=20 Forde kept the score line at two.

On the hour Keyes came = runner up=20 in a talking competition with referee Steve Dolton and won a = yellow card=20 for his efforts but he stayed around long enough to help his = colleagues=20 play some very good football on a difficult surface.

Except = for an=20 uncharacteristic mistake from Murphy that should have been = converted (it=20 was actually, straight over the bar) Watlington never troubled = Nick=20 Heritage, the big 'keeper able to enjoy the warm winter sunshine = tanning=20 his craggy features. "A fag and a deckchair would have = completed  the=20 setting nicely" he remarked in the car park later as he put a = flame to his=20 third post
match pacifier. 

Five minutes from = time came=20 the third and possibly the best goal of the game. Simplicity = itself, but=20 beautifully executed. Picture the scene. A low right wing corner = from=20 Richard McCabe lashed to the near post about ten yards out. Chris = Forde's=20 run from the edge of the box was judged to the millisecond, maybe = the=20 microsecond. Contact was sublime, the ball streaking from head to = net like=20 a laser beam on overtime, Forde's first strike of the season and = one that=20 would
have graced any stage.

So, a final score that did = not=20 flatter Chadlington in any way. At times they played wonderfully=20 attractive football in a game they controlled from start to = finish. Only=20 underfoot conditions and sloppy finishing stopped them from = doubling,=20 possibly trebling the score line. But Manager Wyatt was a happy = man when=20 he debriefed his players after the match. He knew that ten goals = scored=20
and none conceded in the last two games was the ideal = introduction to=20 next weeks "local derby" with Enstone.

For those reading = this who=20 don't attend matches, take my advice, come to the Sports Ground at = 2.30pm=20 on February 16th. The views are great, the beer cheap and the = football=20 magical. Things are starting to happen down Chadlington way!!! = You'll even=20 get a free=20 = programme!

Team:Heritage,Akers,McCabe,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt,R.= Wyatt,Forde,Keyes,Ellis=20 Tinkham.

Substitute: Herbert = (56), Odom=20 (56), J.Wyatt (85)

M-O-M:  = Gary=20 Murphy and Adam Tinkham forged a dynamic strike force down the = right and=20 Wayne Beauchamp and Anthony Akers were solid at the back. All = deserve=20 recognition as do the scorers of the three superbly taken goals. = However,=20 this week's award goes to Player Manager Robbie=20 Wyatt. He covered every inch of grass, every bump, = as he=20 prodded and probed the Watlington defence with a beautiful range = of long=20 and short passes. He was the main instigator, the fulcrum of most = attacks,=20 the true leader from the middle of the park. Just one tip Robert, = don't=20 take free kicks with the outside of your right boot!! =20   

 

Saturday 2nd February 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Chadlington
7
0
 BCS Bardwell
L Keys (4), D Herbert = (2), W=20 Beauchamp
    Rogan, Haycock, Strong
    
M-O-M Adam Tinkham
    
Lee Keyes - 8 goals in 3=20 games

"Seven Up" In = Champagne=20 Win!

Visitors from as far a = field as Lincoln=20 and London came flocking to Chadlington on Saturday to enjoy a true "festival of football", = seeing the=20 hosts romp to a seven goal victory over lowly placed BCS=20 Bardwell.

Goals from Lee Keyes (4), Dave Herbert (2) and = Wayne=20 Beauchamp sealed a win that must have restored confidence to = Robbie=20 Wyatt's boys and blown away the depression that had descended on = the=20 village following the careless loss of three points to Stonesfield = the=20 previous week.

On the heaviest pitch seen at the Sports = Ground for=20 many seasons Chadlington started well and were ahead after 14 = minutes, the=20 mercurial goal machine Keyes converting Gary Murphy's pin point = cross with=20 an eight yard near post header.

Then, in the 32nd minute, = after at=20 least five shots had bounced around the Bardwell six yard box like = a=20 maniacal pin ball machine on speed, Keyes scored again with = another near=20 post headed finish, this time from an astute cross by Matt=20 Ellis.

Chadlington were now rampant and over running a = depleted=20 Bardwell side struggling to field a team capable of hanging on to = a=20 Premier league position.

In honesty, in the first 40 = minutes of the=20 game the score could well have reached six, seven, no, lets settle = for=20 eight as chances were either squandered or saved by = the heroics of=20 visiting 'keeper Craig Kelly. His magnificent performance was all = that was=20 keeping Bardwell marginally in the game and in many senses on the = same=20 planet!

But even Kelly's skills could only stretch so far, = and just=20 before half-time he was beaten again. The scorer? Bustling Wayne=20 Beauchamp, stealing forward to plant a firm header past Kelly from = Richard=20 McCabe's corner kick. So, a three goal margin at the break but a = margin=20 that nowhere near reflected the superiority that Chadlington had = exercised=20 over their demoralised opponents. H-T 3-0

Within a quarter = of an=20 hour of the restart the score could have doubled, the ever active = Chris=20 Forde having two "one on ones" blocked by Kelly and another = towering=20 header from Alan Shadbolt hitting defender Burrows on the = line.

Chadlington were simply running = amok, playing=20 enormously attractive football on a glue pot of a pitch more = suited to=20 Moto Cross than the fast flowing passing movements that Manager = Wyatt has=20 been demanding all season.

Ted Didcock swears he could = hear the=20 old 60's hit of Johnny Tillotson's, "Poetry in Motion" quietly = playing in=20 the back ground as his beloved team weaved magical rings round the = visitors bemused line up! Nice try Ted, but it was only the = humming of the=20 wind in the trees! Clearly one coca cola too many at half time, = best stick=20 to tea in future, far less hallucinating!

On the hour, Dave = Herbert=20 and Jamie Wyatt replaced Forde and Richard McCabe, a change = perfectly=20 timed for them to see at close range Keyes complete a "headed = hat-trick",=20 again from an Ellis cross.

Five minutes later, Jamie Wyatt = opened=20 his legs and showed everyone what talent he possesses with a 50 = yard run=20 and cross that fell to, "you know who". Yes, the finisher was = Keyes, who=20 completed a beautiful move with a strange mixture of nonchalance = and=20 disdain. You could almost hear him saying, "You make them and I'll = sell=20 them"! Readers, Keyes is a seriously good goal scorer and has now = netted=20 eight times in three outings for the club. He seems to have a = combination=20 of greed, positional sense, composure and ruthlessness rarely seen = in this=20 class of football. If you happen to be close to the village on the = 23rd=20 pop in and check out his performance, the OUP defence will = be!

In=20 the 85th minute it was six, Dave Herbert recording his first of = the season=20 after excellent work from young Lewis Dewe and two minutes later = it was=20 seven, Herbert crowning a fine cameo performance with a cool = finish from=20 ten yards.

In total fairness, Bardwell were disappointing = and=20 without the brilliance of 'keeper Craig Kelly would have conceded = at least=20 double the final total of seven. In contrast Chadlington's Nick = Heritage=20 was not called on to make one save, it was as one sided as=20 that!

For Manager Wyatt it was a game that came at a = perfect time=20 for his side, low on confidence and morale and still searching for = a=20 playing pattern that he craves. But it's coming, and he is = developing a=20 squad of around fifteen players that he can "mix and match" = according to=20 form, all of them capable of performing in the formation he feels = is=20 best.

Make no mistake; Rover Cowley winning the league is = not a=20 "done deal". The games between them and other top teams during the = remainder of the month are certain to produce results that will be = a=20 timely reminder to all of how close this seasons Championship will = be.

All Chadlington can do is keep on winning, with perhaps = a=20 glance at the table at the end of the month to see where they sit. = With a=20 mean defensive record showing less than a goal a game conceded = they sit at=20 the top of those statistics, now it's in their hands to make = inroads on=20 the=20 = Premiership!!

Team:Heritage,Akers,McCabe,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt= ,R.Wyatt,Forde,Keyes,Ellis,Tinkham.
Substitutes:=20 Herbert(60),J.Wyatt(60),Dewes(75)

M-O-M.
Scoring four = goals=20 would normally warrant a "Man of the match" award. But not this = week.=20 Without doubt another sparkling performance again from Lee Keyes = but on=20 different disciplines so many players put in excellent displays. = Matt=20 Ellis laying on three goals reminded everyone of his skills on the = ball,=20 Chris Forde was, well Chris Forde, and Dave Herbert's late brace = worthy of=20 note. However, this week=92s award goes to Adam=20 Tinkham with his overall wide play in both attack = and=20 defence adding a new dimension to Chadlington's play. A loyal, = dedicated=20 team man who, on the day, deserves recognition.

Ed's = Note:
Many thanks from Chadlington FC to our visitors = today from=20 'far away'. We are glad to have been 'ticked' off on your lists, = you are=20 most welcome to call and see us again when in the area. Football = needs=20 people like you - and we hope you enjoyed your visit.
Kevin Liptrott (Bromley) and
Mark = Bassil=20 (Surrey)
Raymond Flood (London), Emlyn Tasker =
and Nigel=20 Tasker (Lincoln)

   =20

 

Saturday 26th January 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Stonesfield
2
1
 Chadlington
Higgs,Tarry
     Keyes
Late Errors Again Prove = Costly=20

People say that "fact is stranger = than=20 fiction". Anyone, except the most biased home supporter watching=20 Chadlington's 2-1 defeat at Stonesfield on Saturday would concur = that the=20 saying is now officially confirmed, rubber stamped, signed off, = dot=20 com!!

For Chadlington to be comfortably holding a one goal = lead=20 deep into injury time and then concede two goals and lose the game = they=20 were always in control of was "Roy of the Rovers" stuff for = Stonesfield=20 and the "House of Horrors" for Chadlington.

But the simple = fact is=20 that they had been warned - the statistics don't lie. In the last = three=20 games they have now conceded five goals in the dying minutes of = games,=20 denying them of five additional points so crucial to them if they = are to=20 mount a challenge to the leagues leading teams.

The first = 20=20 minutes of the encounter were evenly balanced but then Chadlington = started=20 to find space down the right with Gary Murphy, Robbie Wyatt and = Shaun=20 Gilbert all combining well to test Chris Days in the home goal. = However,=20 despite Murphy's probing balls and Gilberts speed it was clear = that the=20 excellent defensive records of both sides would ensure that this = would be=20 a low scoring game on a firm and windswept surface. H-T = 0-0

After=20 the dour first half the second period immediately erupted into = life,=20 Chadlington creating four chances within 10 minutes of the break = but=20 disappointingly only converting one. That came in the 47th minute = when=20 Gilbert's pace proved far too much for Stonesfield's Paul Knight. = His inch=20 perfect cross to the near post was all Lee Keyes needed, the = diminutive=20 striker planting a glancing header wide of Days and into the far = corner of=20 the net.

Shortly afterwards it was so nearly two, then = three, then=20 four! First Alan Shadbolt going close from a Murphy cross then = Keyes=20 again, just failing to convert two half chances on the back post = after=20 clever overlaps down the left by Richard McCabe.

Despite=20 Chadlington spurning chances to close the game out they still = looked=20 relatively at ease against a side now enjoying more of the open = play but=20 still finding it difficult to create any real chances against a = sound=20 defence well marshalled by Wayne Beauchamp. Sure Stonesfield = "huffed and=20 puffed" but the simple fact was that except for a few sharp = interceptions,=20 Nick Heritage in the visitors=92 goal was having a trouble free=20 game.

Then, deep into injury time the recurring nightmare = came back=20 to haunt Wyatt=92s men. The third time in three weeks. Only it = wasn't a=20 recurring nightmare it was actually happening. It was fact, not=20 fiction.

First, Shadbolt was wrong footed by Stonesfield's = Clarke=20 wide on the right, his through ball finding Higgs twelve yards out = and=20 completely unmarked. On very few occasions in any level of = football do=20 strikers get time and space to control, turn and aim a precision = finish=20 wide of the keeper when deep in the opponent=92s penalty area. = Unfortunately=20 for Chadlington it happened at Stonesfield at 3.48pm on Saturday = January=20 26th 2008!

Stonesfield had equalised and stolen a point = just as=20 Enstone had two weeks earlier. Horrifically, Chadlington's three = points,=20 now down to one completely disappeared 60 seconds later. A swift = break=20 down the left from Bull. A cross to the near post. A right foot = stab from=20 Tarry. Number two and bedlam amongst the Stonesfield fans who were = resigned to defeat jut a few moments before.

For the = Chadlington=20 contingent it was like watching a boxer demonstrably outpoint his = opponent=20 for the entire fight only to be caught with a "sucker punch" just = before=20 the final bell. And like the boxer, Chadlington went down, and = stayed=20 there!

Seconds later Referee Hodge's final whistle pierced = the late=20 afternoon cold air, closely followed by screams of joy mingled = with=20 disbelief from the home followers. Someone, somewhere had decreed = that=20 Chadlington were to be punished for some unexplained crime, their = penalty=20 being the loss of all three points plus endure a thoroughly = miserable=20 weekend. Whoever it is, wherever he is, he must be found, and = warned off=20 as his actions are causing untold stress and irritation to = everyone who=20 has the club's interests at heart!!

In the Stonesfield car = park=20 late on Saturday evening, a cigarette packet blew against a = Chadlington=20 kit bag. Emblazoned on the packet was a message, "Smoking = seriously harms=20 you and others around you". Maybe with slightly amended wording = that=20 warning could be printed on the front of future Chadlington's = programmes!!=20

Finally in the hope of providing some solace for = Chadlington FC=20 players, officials and supporters, remember that age old phrase. = "It's not=20 the way you are defeated but the way you respond to that defeat" = Bardwell=20 will find out on Saturday!

Team:=20 = Heritage,Akers,McCabe,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt,R.Wyatt,Forde,Keyes,Odom,= Gilbert
Substitutes:=20 Ellis, Fitzgerald, J.Wyatt.

M-O-M: Shaun = Gilbert's speed=20 caused trouble to the Stonesfield defence but over the entire 90 = minutes=20 it was Gary Murphy who impressed most with solid, resolute defence = and=20 searching through balls. Gary Murphy = (pictured=20 on front page) is this week=92s man of the=20 match.

 

Saturday 19th January 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Chadlington
3
2
 Horspath
Keyes (3)
     Gordon, Flack

Chadlington's Keyes Unlock = Horspath's=20 Defence

King Kevin" returned to St = James's Park on=20 Saturday but did not have the same impact for Newcastle United = that=20 Chadlington's "Prince Lee" had when he made his debut against = Horspath at=20 the Sports Ground. For four months Player Manager Robbie Wyatt has = been=20 seeking a natural goal scorer and during the "January window" he = looks to=20 have found one in "Hellenic nomad" Lee Keyes. He came, he saw, he = scored=20 three! Any questions???

This game was vital for Chadlington = after=20 drpping two late points at Enstone, and one that they had to win = to stay=20 in contact with the leagues leading pack. Three points was an = absolute=20 must!

However it was Horspath that started the brighter, = Sam Gordon=20 having a 10th minute header kicked off the line by Chris Forde = following a=20 corner from the left.

Keyes soon registered his arrival a = minute=20 later firing over from close range from a Gary Murphy cross, = Chadlington's=20 only real chance in the first 25 minutes dominated by a Horspath = side that=20 was playing fast flowing football, Gordon a particular threat when = dropping out of the front line into midfield.

Then a unique = event=20 occurred, not seen in Chadlington's long history dating back to = 1912. The=20 referee made a mistake! In itself,certainly not unique,it happens = many=20 times every week. But this time it was different. The referee = actually=20 admitted his mistake later and apologised. Yes actually = apologised! You=20 can work with top men like referee Steve Higa.

The saga = unfolded=20 like this. Nick Heritage's long goal kick found Keyes free behind = the=20 Horspath defence. Three touches later it was nestling safely in = 'keeper=20 Gray's net. Offside decreed the Horspath linesman. "I concur" said = the=20 referee, neither of them initially realising that a player can not = be=20 offside from a goal kick. Alas both remembered too late to redress = their=20 error and the
scores remained level.

Ironically, the=20 official's error galvanised Chadlington, their adrenalin rush = suddenly=20 kicking in, bringing them back into the game albeit by a bizarre = but most=20 effective motivational means.

The game swung Chadlington's = way and=20 five minutes before the break Keyes scored again, this time to the = satisfaction of the men carrying whistle and flag. Alan Shadbolt's = headed=20 pass once again found the little "goal poacher" behind the = Horspath back=20 line and once again his astute lob found the back of Gray's = net.

On=20 the stroke of half-time it was two following a masterly piece of = sorcery=20 from striker Mark Odom. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box = he=20 twisted and turned before rolling his marker perfectly. The = defender had a=20 choice, a goal or concede a foul. He chose the latter.  A = penalty, no=20 doubt. Enter on to the scene debutant Keyes. His body language = suggested=20 that only one person was being considered for the spot kick. Him! = He's not=20 shy you know. Ten seconds
later the ball is stationary in the = back of=20 the net. It's two goals for Keyes, plus an apology from the = referee! H-T=20 2-0

After the interval Chadlington continued to take the = game to=20 their visitors but were finding it more difficult to create clear = chances=20 against a rear guard that was defending high up the pitch, using = the=20 off-side trap to great effect.

A goal from Horspath in the = early=20 stages of the second period would certainly have put pressure on=20 Chadlington,that was until the 63rd minute when the hosts scored = again,=20 effectively putting the game beyond reach. A excellent interplay = down the=20 right involving Chris Forde and Matt Ellis eventually found the = unmarked=20 Shaun Gilbert lurking free close to the penalty spot. His first = time=20
volley was spilled by Gray and ran free. Not for long though. = Like a=20 panther, the ball was pounced on by the insatiable Keyes who = slotted home=20 coolly to crown a remarkable debut for his new club with a well = deserved=20 hat-trick. Make no mistake, this lad Keyes has an eye for a goal.=20 Specsavers loss, Chadlington's gain!!!

In the last two = minutes of=20 the game Horspath got some consolation for their afternoon of hard = graft,=20 reminding Chadlington that the three goal difference did not truly = reflect=20 the difference between the two sides. First Gordon headed home = from a=20 corner after Gary Murphy had been cleverly blocked then a minute = later the=20 free scoring Paul Flack added a second again from a
corner. = Too=20 little, too late though to set up  a grandstand finish for = another=20 group of football fanatics, this time from from Slough and = Amersham, who=20 were making their first visit to the "home of Cotswold football".=20

Like all newcomers making their "debuts",they were made = very=20 welcome, but not quite as welcome as the "little diamond", = unearthed from=20 the Hellenic league by Manager Wyatt. Welcome and congratulations = Lee, the=20 directions to Stonesfield for this Saturday's game are in the = post!!=20 =

Team:Heritage,Ellis,Akers,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt,R.Wyatt,Forde= ,Keyes,Odom,Gilbert.=20 =

Substitutes:Jones(84),Fizgerald(84),J.Wyatt.

M= -O-M.=20 Gary Murphy was regal at the back, Wayne Beauchamp supreme in =
the air=20 and on the ground but it would be churlish to consider anyone = above a=20 debutant who scored a hat-trick and brought much needed life to = the=20 Chadlington front line. With Mark Odom also hitting top form they = already=20 look like a deadly duo. Without doubt man of the match, = Lee=20 Keyes.  =

 

Saturday 5th January 2008
Oxfordshire = Senior League -=20 Premier Division

Chadlington
4
3
 Watlington
R.Wyatt(2) Tinkham, = Gilbert=20
    Rogan, Haycock, Strong
    
M-O-M Chris Forde
    
Sean Gilbert - scored the = first=20 goal

Jekyll And Hyde = Display From=20 Chadlington

Chadlington stumbled into = the New Year=20 on Saturday beating bottom of the table Watlington 4-3 in a game = they did=20 their very best to throw away. Three goals ahead at the break = Chadlington=20 looked to be cruising, but with two goals in the last 20 minutes = from the=20 opposition it was the home team that welcomed Tony Hick's final = whistle=20 after a very forgettable second half performance.

It all = started so=20 well for Chadlington. Four minutes into the game, an interchange = of passes=20 between Robbie Wyatt and Shaun Gilbert saw the little wide man = easily beat=20 Stubbs with a neat left foot finish.

Twenty minutes later = it was=20 two. Richard McCabe's corner, Chris Forde's header from beyond the = far=20 post, player manager Wyatt's clinical finish past 'keeper Stubbs. = It all=20 seemed so easy. A simple goal, well executed, and a score that = reflected=20 the homes side's superiority (at that stage)!

Then in the = 35th=20 minute Chadlington's confidence received the first of the many = dents it=20 would experience before the end of the game. Nick Heritage was = called on=20 for the first time to move quickly and palm over a 25 yard drive. = Poor=20 marking from the resulting corner then allowed Rogan to be free = and=20 Watlington were back in the game. But, sadly for them, only for = three=20 minutes. Another goal from Wyatt, following Heritage's long = clearance,=20 then a tap in for Adam
Tinkham after Wyatt's free kick had = been=20 parried, saw Chadlington go into the break three goals ahead, the = 4-1=20 score line being a fair indicator of the difference between the = two teams.=20 H-T 4-1 

Everything was set fair to see Chadlington = go on to=20 win well and gain some much needed confidence before meeting high = riding=20 Enstone and Horspath in the coming weeks. Even the "football = anoraks" who=20 had travelled from Stockport, Birmingham, London and Manchester to = "tick"=20 the Sports Ground off their lists of stadia visited could not help = but be=20 impressed by much of Chadlington's fine play.

For the = initial=20 twenty minutes of the second half Chadlington continued to play = attractive=20 football, but as with previous games, the final ball, the pinpoint = cross=20 and the overall decision making were disappointing and lacked the = quality=20 to unlock a brave Watlington defence. They did come close in the = 65th=20 minute when Forde's finish from Mark Odom's excellent cross hit = the inside=20 of Stubbs' post and ran tantalisingly along the line and a goal = then may=20 well have rejuvenated a side that was ever so slowly beginning to = run out=20 of ideas, become shapeless and, worst of all, lose its application = and=20 discipline.

It was no surprise when, in the 70th minute, = Haycock=20 scored Watlington's second, as it was a fair reward for their = "never say=20 die" attitude. It was even less of a surprise when Strong added = another=20 with six minutes to go, albeit too late for Watlington to take = something=20 from the game. Nevertheless, it was a fight back the visitors = could be=20 proud of after being outplayed for much of the early = stages.

There=20 is no doubt that Watlington frightened Chadlington and although a = "neutral=20 observer" would have decreed that the hosts were the better side = overall,=20 an eventual one goal margin speaks volumes for the way that = Manager=20 Wyatt's team fell away in the final third of the game. It also = pays great=20 credit to a Watlington side that refused to lie down.

Quite = what=20 the travelling "anoraks" thought of Chadlington's second half = display was=20 not recorded although "Ben" the mongrel, accompanying them on = their=20 travels round the country, may have left a clue under the tree = near the=20 cricket sightscreen before jumping in his master's car to return = north. A=20 little harsh maybe, but for sensitive Cotswold souls, sometimes = the truth=20 hurts!!

Team:=20 = Heritage,Tinkham,McCabe,Akers,Beauchamp,Murphy,R.Wyatt,Forde,Odom,Ellis,G= ilbert.

Subs:Shadbolt(72),Fitzgerald(72),Herbert(72).

M-O-M.=20 Chris Forde. Whilst no player was outstanding for the = entire=20 game, Chris gave his usual all action display. He may be short on = some=20 skills but desire, heart and pure 100% graft are always at the top = of his=20 agenda. A true team player.

Ed's Note:
Many=20 thanks from Chadlington FC to our visitors from 'far away'. We are = glad to=20 have been 'ticked' off on your lists, you are most welcome to call = and see=20 us again when in the area. Football needs people like you. =

Stockport man and Ben
Five 'happy chaps' in the Grandstand=20

   =20

 

Saturday 22nd December 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior Cup -=20 Ben Turner Cup - Round 1

Eynsham
1
0
 Chadlington
    
M-O-M Mark Odom
    
Anthony Akers- solid = game

Woeful Finishing Proves = Costly In Cup=20 Defeat

To regular readers (ok, maybe not too many, = but I can=20 dream) there may be a strange similarity between this report and = the ones=20 written for the Headington, Kennington and Adderbury Park=20 games!

The similarity of each report is simple to identify = and it's=20 becoming a recurring theme. The simple truth is that if = Chadlington took=20 the chances they would win more games, and comfortably. They = didn't take=20 their chances on Saturday and are now out of the Ben Turner=20 Cup.

But beyond the result, beyond the missed chances, = Chadlington=20 played excellent football for long periods of time. Quality = football that=20 should have proved too much for an Eynsham side second in the = Premier=20 league boasting only one defeat in eleven starts so far this=20 season.
Reflecting on the game, let me put it this way. = Houdini, Steve=20 McQueen and even Ronnie Biggs would have signed up as Life = Presidents for=20 Eynsham had they seen the home side's "great escape" on Saturday!! = Sorry=20 Ronnie, but it was daylight robbery!

In the first half = Chadlington=20 simply outplayed their hosts. Wayne Beauchamp and Anthony Akers, = so solid=20 at the back, were encouraging wing backs Adam Tinkham and Richard = McCabe=20 to surge forward in support of Danny Cleevely, Robbie Wyatt and = Mark Odom,=20 the latter making his debut at the point of the attack. At last we = were=20 seeing Chadlington attack with five, six, sometimes seven players, = Chris=20 Forde and Mark Fitzgerald also adding weight to the forward=20 thrusts.

So, why no goals? Mainly for two reasons. From at = least 12=20 crosses (maybe more) delivered from the flanks, 12 crosses (again, = maybe=20 more) were gathered safely by Eynsham 'keeper Paul Woolford. = Chadlington's=20 crosses lacked quality and variety, a large number wasted, = something for=20 Player Manager Wyatt to work on at the training ground.

Secondly, "Lady Luck" had decided to go = Christmas=20 shopping when Chadlington needed her most. On the numerous = occasions when=20 balls dropped freely in the box, not one fell to the feet of a = forward=20 free of his marker. Hopefully the good lady will not be visiting = the=20 January sales on match days in the new year! H-T = 0-0

Eynsham came=20 more into the game after the break. They were a strong side, not = blessed=20 with too much skill, but they worked hard and contested every = ball. The=20 game was now more even.

In the 53rd minute Chadlington = should have=20 opened the scoring. Forde collecting a ball 30 yards out, surged = past Hall=20 and into the box. "One on one" with Woolford he chose power over = precision=20 and saw his drive crash against the bar and away to safety. Strike = one!

Fast forward to the 70th minute. McCabe wide on the = left=20 delivered a magnificent ball across the face of Woolford's goal to = Cleevely, just three yards out. A simple cushioned volley and = Chadlington=20 were one up. Wrong! The ball somehow got stuck behind his knee = (you=20 picture it because I can't) and rolled harmlessly to the keeper. = Strike=20 two!

Five minutes later, Odom squirmed free from Bailey on = the left=20 and again Woolford was exposed. This time, surely this time. Err, = no. The=20 debutant sliced wide and another chance was gone. Strike=20 three!

Then in the 77th minute it was payback time for = Chadlington=20 when Eynsham broke. Armstrong's through ball looked to have caught = Gallant=20 a yard off-side but there was no flag. However, Chadlington = recovered and=20 the ball ran dead. Linesman Mulhearn signalled a goal kick, = referee Clare=20 overruled him and gave a corner. Can you see the hand (or whistle) = of fate=20 beginning to emerge? Yeah, me too!

Glossop's flat corner = was=20 delivered just eight yards from goal and found Sadie, his = perfectly timed=20 run from the edge of the box freeing him from his marker. His = sharp header=20 gave Nick Heritage no time to react and Eynsham were one up, = albeit=20 against the run of play. Football can be so cruel at = times.

When=20 McCabe's cross cum shot hit the Eynsham bar in the final minute it = seemed=20 to encapsulate Chadlington's afternoon of misfortune. It somehow = indicated=20 that, whatever Chadlington did, it wasn't going to be their=20 day.

Nevertheless, Chadlington can take a lot from the = defeat as=20 they move into their mid season break and begin to prepare for = their=20 assault on the Premier league in the New Year. With Gary Murphy = expected=20 back after illness, he will be able to add strength and guile to = midfield.=20 The Manager will also be able to build on the encouraging runs = from deep=20 made by Tinkham and McCabe and sharpen up their final ball into = the danger=20 area. And in Wyatt, Cleevely, Odom and Forde Chadlington seem to = have=20 formed a quartet that will trouble any defence in the
league.=20

So, it's just the finishing to work on lads!! Simple as=20 that!

Team:=20 =
Heritage,Tinkham,McCabe,Fitzgerald,Beauchamp,Akers,R.Wyatt,Forde,Odom= ,Ellis,
D.Cleevely.

Substitutes:J.Wyatt(80),Shadbolt,Dewe.
<= BR>M-O-M.=20 Mark Odom. With a highly promising debut, Mark showed = great=20 mobility working tirelessly across the front line creating space = for his=20 colleagues. He was strong on the ball, surprisingly powerful in = the air=20 and looked to be the ideal target man for Wyatt's new=20 combination.
   =20

 

Saturday 15th December 2007
Oxfordshire = Charity Cup=20 - Round 2

Charlbury
1
1
 Chadlington
M Grimsley
Charlbury = win 5-3 on=20 penalties after extra time
     M = Grimsley og=20
Charlbury win 5-3 on pealties after extra = time
    
M-O-M Mark = Fitzgerald
    
Dave Herbert - missed game = through injury=20

Lack Lustre Chadlington = Crash In Cup.=20

It was a very sad day for any Chadlington = resident who=20 made the three mile journey to Charlbury on Saturday unless it was = to=20 purchase some early Christmas groceries from the Co-op. Just 100 = yards=20 away from the store Chadlington were being humbled in the 2nd = round of the=20 Oxfordshire Charity Cup by their near rivals in a game that rarely = rose=20 above the mediocre.

Chadlington got off to the perfect = start,=20 when,in the third minute, Mark Fitzgerald was brought down 25 = yards from=20 goal. Gary Murphy's flighted free kick was contested by Chris = Forde and=20 Martin Grimsley and it was the unlucky "forward turned defender" = who was=20 credited with the own goal that put the visitors = ahead.

Although=20 scoring first and hopefully settling the quicker, Chadlington were = finding=20 it hard to penetrate the rugged Charlbury defence and it was the = home side=20 who were the more dangerous regularly getting behind the = Chadlington back=20 four to deliver incisive balls across Nick Heritage's six yard = box. A goal=20 always seemed on the cards against a strangely uncomfortable = Chadlington=20 defence and eventually the inevitable happened when on the stroke = of half=20 time Grimsley made up for his earlier error by heading in at the = far post=20 from McCallum's excellent cross. H-T 1-1

The second half = passed=20 slowly, very slowly. There was simply nothing to excite the sparse = crowd=20 who clearly had nothing else better to do with their time even = though the=20 bright Christmas lights of Banbury and Witney beckoned just over = the=20 rolling hills and valleys of the eastern Cotswolds. No pinpoint = through=20 balls, no interchange of passes, no goalmouth thrills,no knee high = tackles! Absolutely nothing! Even the Co-op and the Spendlove = Centre=20 dental surgery began to look inviting,the Rose and Crown even more = so!!=20 Then, just before Referee Alan Hayle blew for time came the = highlight of=20 the half,the ball was kicked into the road!! F-T = 1-1

Amazingly=20 extra time was full of incidents and in fairness belonged totally = and=20 utterly to Chadlington. First Wyatt had an opportunist effort = kicked off=20 the line by Cox, then Murphy burst through three tackles to hit = the post=20 with a 20 yard drive, his second effort from the rebound being = parried=20 away by Akers. Finally, 16 year old Lewis Dewe, a lad for the = future,=20 brought the save of the day from Charlbury 'keeper Akers,when he = forced=20 him to tip over an exquisite chip destined for the top corner.

And so to penalties, a lottery to determine = the result=20 but essential in the rapidly fading light. Unlike the game the = "shoot out"=20 didn't go the distance, Danny Cleevely having Chadlington's third = penalty=20 saved. With Charlbury converting their five the game was over and = the home=20 side through to the next round.

As local derby's go it was = a non=20 event. Few goals, minimal goalmouth scrambles, a general paucity = of=20 football, no bookings, not even a good argument on the touchline. = The "old=20 timers" watching, who still display the scars of previous = encounters,=20 would have been appalled by the lack of passion, commitment and = desire=20 shown by the "young stags" of today's game. Certainly no rutting = on=20 offer!

Lets hope the Bowls teams from each village provide = a few=20 more fireworks when
they meet in the summer!

Team:=20 = Heritage,D.Cleevely,McCabe,Murphy,Akers,Shadbolt,Tinkham,Forde,J.Wyatt,Fitzgerald,Gilbert.=20

Subs:R.Wyatt(15),Dewe(65)

M-O-M.=20 Unfortunately not too many players qualify but based on his =
first half=20 performance Mark Fitzgerald takes the award. = Playing=20 against a side
managed by his father and containing his = brother,=20 "Fitzy" did a fine job sat in
front of the back four. With = sharp well=20 timed tackles and accurate passes he
can look back on his = display with=20 some pride.

 

 

Saturday 24th November 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior Cup -=20 Round 1 - Replay

Chadlington
1
2
 Headington = Amateurs
S Knight(3),M Fitzgerald, = W MurphyU
      
   
M-O-M Matt Ellis
    
Shaun Gilbert - 'pacy' = game

Chadlington Cup=20 Hopes Shattered.

Between now and the end of the = season=20 Headington Amateurs will not be outplayed as much as they were at=20 Chadlington on Saturday in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup 1st round = replay but=20 amazingly came out of the game winning 2-1 after great strikes = from Jason=20 Maciak and Jamie Mundy.

If Chadlington's management team = put=20 Sherlock Holmes, Maigret or even Inspector Clousseau on the case = they=20 would all struggle to solve the mystery of how Chadlington only = scored one=20 goal, missed a penalty, plus at least five gilt edged = chances!

The=20 first chance came as early as the fifth minute, Forde blazing high = over=20 from six yards after Wyatt had gone close. More near misses = followed as=20 Headington were under siege but poor finishing and 'keeper = Bianchini's=20 heroics were keeping the 'A's' in the game.

Against the run = of play=20 it was Headington who scored first in the 22nd minute, a brilliant = drive=20 from the edge of the box by Maciak, which gave home 'keeper = Heritage no=20 chance.

Chadlington continued to control the game and after = Wyatt=20 had shot straight at Bianchini from close range they spurned a = further=20 four glaring opportunities before equalising with a superb 30 yard = free=20 kick from defender Gary Murphy two minutes before the break. H-T=20 1-1

On the hour, in a rare attack Headington regained the = lead.=20 Following an infringement 25 yards out Jamie Mundy bent a great = left foot=20 free kick round the wall and wide of Heritage.

For the = final 30=20 minutes it was one way traffic on the Headington goal. A missed = penalty by=20 Wyatt should have levelled the scores but with Bianchini quite = brilliant=20 in the visitors' goal and Chadlington continuing to waste a hatful = of=20 clearcut chances it was a battered, bruised and certainly bemused=20 Headington who progress to the next round.

At the end of = the day,=20 it's goals that count! 

Team:=20 = Heritage,D.Cleevely,McCabe,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt,R.Wyatt,Forde,Knight= ,Ellis,
Gilbert.=20 Subs:Tinkham(65),Fitzgerald,Green.

M-O-M: Matt=20 Ellis. Following last weeks excellent performance, = another=20 accomplished and mature display from Matt, looking ever more = comfortable=20 in front of the back four. His reading of the game,energy and = distribution=20 enabled Chadlington to "boss" the game from start to = finish.

MATCH=20 SUMMARY.

What can you say?

A wonderful crowd of 50 = plus (an=20 attendance that would not shame a Hellenic league club), a full = strength=20 side and an opportunity to progress to a "glamour" tie under = lights at=20 Kidlington in the next round. Everything was right for an historic = afternoon at the Sports field. But, in racing parlance, = Chadlington led=20 all the way by a distance before falling at the last!

Let's = take=20 the emotion out of the equation and evaluate their=20 performance.

1.Were Chadlington the better side? =20 Yes!
2.Did they have the vast majority of the play? = Yes!
3.Did they=20 look solid at the back? Yes!
4.Did they control the middle of = the park?=20 Yes!
5.Did the young "boy racers" wide, get behind the defence = and=20 deliver? Yes!
6.Did everyone give their utmost for the cause?=20 Yes!
7.Did dire finishing cost them the game? Yes, yes, a = thousand=20 times yes!

A statistician would have had a ball gathering = data on=20 Chadlington's display. The number of tackles won all over the = park. The=20 times they got in behind Headington's back line to deliver crosses = from=20 the dead ball line. The shots they had, on and off target. The = information=20 given would have used up a small forest in paper!

Except = for one=20 area the stats would have looked great! The simple fact remains = that if=20 you score less goals than the opposition, you don't win = matches.

A=20 case of stating the bloomin' obvious I know but nobody should lose = sight=20 of the fact that this Chadlington side is a very good one indeed, = with=20 major strengths in all departments.

Now the season is in = full flow=20 and the team have found a rhythm, their performances every week = are=20 improving; the two games against Hellenic league team Headington = Amateurs=20 a testament to that.

All Chadlington need now is the = finishing=20 power to register, in goals, their superiority.

Why aren't = they=20 scoring? A combination of so many things. Anxiety, a dip in = confidence,=20 someone with the positional sense to sniff a chance, skill, the = lack of a=20 natural predator to tuck half chances away? All those and more. = All valid=20 reasons, and challenges, that Player Manager Robbie Wyatt is all = too aware=20 of!

The answer to the problem is not easy. More work on = the=20 training ground? Certainly. Confidence boosting words in players = ears?=20 Maybe. A trawl through available and proven strikers both in the = Reserves=20 and further afield. Most definitely.

Challenges that = Manager Wyatt=20 is quite prepared to face "head on" in his quest to push = Chadlington into=20 a promotion position.

But for now, and until the next game, = retain=20 the warmth inside that remembers how well Chadlington played on = Saturday,=20 but don't forget the cold chill that reminds us that: goals win=20 matches!!!!

 

Saturday 17th November 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior Cup -=20 Round 1

Headington Amateurs
1
1
 Chadlington
S Knight(3),M Fitzgerald, W = Beauchamp=20
    Knight
    
M-O-M Gary Murphy
    
Alan Shadbolt - had a fine=20 game

So Close To Cup Win

Eleven "battle scarred" warriors = returned to=20 Chadlington on Saturday night after deservedly earning a 1-1 draw = with=20 Hellenic League West side Headington Amateurs in the 1st round of = the=20 Oxfordshire Senior Cup.

It wasn't quite the same heroic = return that=20 you associate with soldiers coming back from war or even someone = who has=20 been forced to watch Derby County play, but is was a homecoming = which=20 followed a great team display against a side sitting comfortably = midway up=20 the league above them.

Chadlington got off to a great = start. After=20 just three minutes they were ahead when a cross from Danny = Cleevely was=20 contested in the box by the foraging Chris Forde. The ball ran on = to Steve=20 Knight, outside the far post and some 12 yards from the target. = One touch,=20 one drag then a "rifle shot" driven in and Chadlington were one=20 up!

Sadly the lead only lasted seven minutes before = Headington=20 equalised. Wayne Beauchamp was caught forward after going for a = high ball=20 and when the subsequent pinpoint diagonal cross came in from the = right,=20 Phillips was left with the simple task of side footing past Nick = Heritage=20 to bring the scores level.

How would Chadlington respond? = Would=20 they cave in? Would Headington's superior skills and home = advantage prove=20 too much for a team from a lower league?

Hold it right = there!=20 Ignore the last paragraph and read on!

Chadlington's = response was=20 magnificent and they began to control the game, looking much the = more=20 likely team to add to their total. In short, they simply refused = to take a=20 backward step.

Sure 'keeper Heritage, who was rock solid=20 throughout, was called on to make two fine saves but it was = Chadlington=20 who played most of the football, solo striker Robbie Wyatt's = control, and=20 the lightning pace of Shaun Gilbert and Knight wide constantly = troubling=20 their opposite numbers Gray and Bell.

Both Knight and Wyatt = went=20 close but not as close as Alan Shadbolt who brought the "save of = the day"=20 from Headington's Dan Bianchini reputedly on permanent loan from = Milan=20 Rovers! Senior statesman, Ted Didcock remarked that he liked  = a bit=20 of Bianchini with bolognese sauce over it on a Saturday night but = let's=20 move on, I may have misheard.

Back to Shadbolt's effort. = Picture=20 the scene. A high ball dropping just outside the box. Shadbolt, = with his=20 natural predatory instinct and razor sharp reactions saw it early. = "This=20 one is mine my son" he thought. Then, somehow,he contorted his = body, yes,=20 even more than normal, pivoted on his right and hit a left foot = waist high=20 volley as straight as a nuclear missile. "Gooooaaal"
screamed = the=20 Chadlington section of the sparse crowd. "Corner" responded = Bianchini as=20 he pushed it away. Sadly no happy supper for Ted!

Half-time = 1-1

For the first 15 minutes after the break Headington = reacted=20 well to Chadlington's first half superiority and were the stronger = side.=20 However, despite dangerous crosses being laid across Heritage's = area no=20 clearcut chances were created and he remained untroubled.=20

Chadlington then found another gear, and with Matt Ellis, = Shadbolt=20 and Forde maintaining a midfield balance and command so rarely = seen this=20 season began to regain the upper hand.

Headington were = finding it=20 hard to contain their visitors who were growing in confidence. = With Gary=20 Murphy so majestic and authoritative at the back, Shadbolt and = Forde were=20 given licence to surge forward and support Wyatt. One driving run = from the=20 burly Shadbolt in the 71st minute was only halted when he was = upended by=20 Parsons, a second yellow card offence which led to referee Norris=20 relieving him of his defensive duties for the remainder of the=20 game.

With Headington reduced to 10 men Chadlington made a = tactical=20 switch, leaving three defenders at the back and moving Knight to = spearhead=20 the attack alongside Wyatt. This astute move looked to have paid = off with=20 10 minutes remaining when Wyatt was set clear of the home=20 defence.

Like a matador with an exhausted bull, Wyatt moved = in on=20 his prey, taunting, teasing and tantalising Bianchini. The "coup = de grace"=20 was only seconds away and Ted was already rehearsing his "ole's" = behind=20 the dug-out. But this time the bull won, Wyatt side footed wide = and, alas,=20 Chadlington's best chance was gone.

Poor light at the end = of 90=20 minutes prohibited extra time and possible penalties, a refereeing = decision that certainly suited Headington more than the visitors. = For=20 their part, they had performed admirably on the day and can look = forward=20 to the replay this Saturday with growing confidence. =

Several=20 questions were answered at Headington.

It was always known = that=20 Chadlington's defence was pretty water tight and this was = confirmed again=20 on Saturday. But, in midfield, Manager Wyatt may just have = stumbled across=20 the right combination. Ellis, in a holding role, Shadbolt pushing = forward=20 and Forde, well just being Forde, gave Chadlington a solidity and = balance=20 that they have been searching for all season.

On the = flanks, the=20 two flyers, Knight and Gilbert also impressed spasmodically, with = their=20 quicksilver thrusts. All they need now is consistency. =

And, up=20 front, the experience and guile of Wyatt allows him to battle = alone,=20 "ploughing a lone furrow" until support arrives.

In = summary,=20 Chadlington learnt that, based on Saturday's opponents, they are = more than=20 capable of holding their own at a higher level. Let's hope that by = 4pm=20 this coming Saturday nothing will have=20 = changed!!

Team;Heritage,D.Cleevely,Green,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt= ,Wyatt,Forde,Knight,
Ellis,Gilbert.=20 = Subs:Fitzgerald,Herbert,Dewes.

M-O-M. = It=20 could have been any one of the eleven. Alan Shadbolt,back to his = best came=20 very close but for sheer artistry, control, maturity, timing, = tackling=20 skills, distribution and leadership Gary = Murphy=20 again takes the accolade.    =20

 

Saturday 10th November 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior=20 League - Premier Division

Chadlington
0
0
 Stonesfield
S Knight(3),M Fitzgerald, W = Beauchamp=20
     
    
M-O-M Richard = McCabe
    
Adam Tinkham - had a good=20 game

More = Points Given=20 Up

A different game but the same = story for the=20 home side when they played hosts to local neighbours Stonesfield. = For the=20 third league game in a row they had to be content with a single = point when=20 they failed to break down a stubborn and defiant visitors' defence = as the=20 two teams played out a goalless draw.

Goals were always going to be at = a premium=20 when from the start Stonesfield set their stall out for the game = playing a=20 five man midfield in an effort to contain the home side and then = break=20 quickly.

With the home side failing to = raise their=20 game and the final passing often going astray few chances were = created by=20 either side and both 'keepers had few direct shots to deal with. = The=20 nearest a goal came to being scored was when Chadlington's Robbie = Wyatt=20 hit the bar from close range midway through the first half.

The home side lost Gary Murphy to = injury in=20 the second half and as the game entered its final phase = Chadlington threw=20 the substitutes on and pressed hard for the one goal that was = always going=20 to be the winner. However, the 'keeper, Days, in the Stonesfield = goal=20 stood firm and the visitors went home happy with both a deserved = point and=20 a bowl of chilli from their visit. F-T 0-0.

Although Chadlington remain = unbeaten in six=20 league games, this is the fourth draw and the loss of another two = points=20 is unwelcome. The performance was improved on that from the = previous week,=20 however the lack of goals scored remains a concern to the = management team.=20 Next week they travel to Oxford to play Hellenic League Division = One=20 opponents Headington Amateurs in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.

Team:=20 = Heritage:Tinkham,McCabe,Murphy,Beauchamp:Gilbert,Ellis,Forde,Cleevely=20 (D):R.Wyatt,Knight,
Substitutes:=20 Jones,Fitzgerald,Herbert.

M-O-M - Adam = Tinkam=20 had a good game on his return to the side, however for his = all-round=20 performance in both defence and attacking support play = Richard=20 McCabe takes it.

Note: Normal report service will = resume next=20 week when 'Amigo' returns. =

 

Saturday 3rd November 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Kennington
1
1
 Chadlington
S Knight(3),M Fitzgerald, W = Beauchamp=20
    R Wyatt
   
M-O-M Robbie Wyatt
    
Nick Heritage - Fine = Save

Just = One Point In A=20 Below Par Performance

Chadlington Football Club have = come a long=20 way in the last six months under the tutelage of new manager = Robbie Wyatt=20 and coach Gary Murphy and will possibly be challenging for honours = at the=20 end of the season. One thing is certain though, if they play like = they did=20 at Kennington on Saturday, mid table will be all they can look = forward=20 to!
 
Kennington were a big, strong, no nonsense side, = floating=20 on air after their spectacular 5-2 victory at Garsington the = previous week=20 and looking for revenge following their 3-0 defeat at the Sports = Field in=20 mid October.

Sadly, unlike the Chairman's visit to = Stratford in the=20 week, Chadlington were not at the races on Saturday! In the early = stages,=20 they were slow thinking and sluggish on the ball and showed an = inability=20 to close down space when off it. The outcome was a lack of control = and=20 authority in midfield - an absolute "must" if they were to launch=20 wingbacks Danny Cleevely and Richard McCabe into forward wide = positions to=20 provide further attacking options. 

With Kennington = in the=20 ascendancy, clever movement and interplay from strikers Quinn, = Mattiss and=20 Stuart Dunham was putting strain on the normally cultured central = duo of=20 Murphy and Wayne Beauchamp. Corner kicks were also causing = consternation,=20 with the visitors' defence slow to track off the ball movement = from=20 Kennington, Richard Dunham being a particular irritant on too many = occasions.

In the 25th minute Kennington brought the "save = of the=20 season" from Chadlington's Nick Heritage. In a crowded penalty = area, the=20 ball broke to the feet of Dunham just 15 yards from goal. His = perfect,=20 first time volley was heading for the corner of Heritage's net = until the=20 big keeper, seeing it late, launched himself to his left to = fingertip the=20 ball onto the post and to
safety. Quite = masterful!

Ironically,=20 within a minute of Heritage's heroics, Chadlington went in front. = An early=20 ball from Cleevely found Wyatt on the edge of the box with his = back to=20 goal. Turning to his right he drew one defender, then to his left = he=20 slipped another. Suddenly, he was clear on goal. Would he panic = and blast=20 it high? No, behave yourself, his accurate side foot shot with his = left=20 boot across Pervis was far too good for the home goal minder and = the=20 visitors were one up.

A moment of coolness and class, a = split=20 second of cunning and composure, a cameo from a natural goal=20 poacher. 

Where, or why should I stop? Quite simply, = a=20 stylish portrait of football beauty, magnificently drawn on green = canvas=20 by an artist!!

Half-time 0-1

Chadlington appeared = more=20 settled after the break, a bigger share of the game being played = in the=20 home side's half. Wyatt as the target man, Steve Knight sniping in = the=20 channels, and Chris Forde the ever willing runner from = midfield, all=20 beginning to cause problems. A second goal, which would have = closed out=20 the game, looked highly likely. 

Then in the 64th = minute came=20 a baffling decision from referee Disbury. With the ball close to=20 Chadlington's corner flag he suddenly ran into the box and pointed = at the=20 spot, penalising Murphy for an apparent push on Quinn. An alleged=20 misdemeanour some 15 yards from the action. Nobody on the field of = play,=20 or off it, saw anything untoward except the referee. It just goes = to show=20 how good officials have to be at this level. To have the ability = to spot=20 something that no one else on the ground has seen is a rare skill = indeed!!=20
Except for that "senior moment" the man in black had an = exemplary=20 game. Needless to say, wry smiles were seen in the Kennington = dug-out=20 after Quinn despatched the penalty.

In the last quarter, = with=20 substitute Steve Jones up front and Wyatt back in midfield = replacing the=20 tiring Matt Ellis, Chadlington pressed forward looking for the = winner.But=20 it wasn't to be. A lacklustre performance got them exactly what = they=20 deserved, one point against a mid table side, the second away game = in=20 succession when the have only obtained a point from a team  = not in=20 contention. Not exactly the form wanted, or expected by = manager=20 Wyatt.

Chadlington have now scored seven league goals in = five=20 outings, conceding just two. Not much wrong at the back then with=20 Cleevely, Murphy, Beauchamp and McCabe having developed into a = formidable=20 quartet. But "7 from 5" up front, the second lowest in the = division, is=20 not a good return for the superiority that they have enjoyed in = most=20 games.

Are enough chances being created by midfield for the = strikers? Are the strikers converting an acceptable percentage? Is = the=20 team formation right? More pertinent, is everyone fully fit, = committed,=20 dedicated and fighting flat out for the cause? Questions, = questions,=20 questions!!
 
One thing is certain though, Chadlington = will=20 need a far better performance against newcomers Stonesfield on = saturday if=20 they are to get three points!

Team:=20 = Heritage,D.Cleevely,McCabe,Murphy,Beauchamp,Shadbolt,R.Wyatt,Forde,Knight= ,Ellis,
Fitzgerald.

Substitutes:=20 Jones(68),J Wyatt,Gilbert.

M-O-M - = Danny=20 Cleevely's defensive work and forward runs were impressive, so too = was=20
the unbelievable work rate of Chris Forde. But when it comes = to class=20 and composure, where it matters, in the box, Robbie Wyatt=20 turned in a consummate display. If there is a scientist = out there=20 who can clone another RW to play in midfield as well as up front, = will he=20 please contact the Chairman!
 =20

 

Saturday 27th October 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Chadlington
5
0
 Charlton
S Knight(3),M Fitzgerald, W Beauchamp =
     
    
M-O-M Chris Forde
    
Steve Knight - Hat Trick =

Knight Hits Three=20 In Fine Cup Win

In front=20 of a near capacity crowd of 50, Manager Robbie Wyatt's jigsaw = puzzle had a=20 few more pieces added when, on Saturday, he saw his team's new = formation=20 overrun a plucky Charlton side by 5-0 in the first round of the=20 Oxfordshire FA Charity Cup.

For the first time he played a = 4-3-1-2=20 line up, banking on the speed of Dave Herbert and Steve Knight, = the=20 support play of Chris Forde and the width and penetration from = wing backs=20 Danny Cleevely and Richard McCabe to find holes in the visitors=20 defence.

Five crisply taken goals was the outcome. Five, which = could=20 have been ten, if composure and guile had matched the teams pace = and=20 enthusiasm.=20

As usual, Chadlington came out of their = starting blocks=20 fast, but true to recent form, missed glaring opportunities to put = "an=20 early score on the door", Knight failing to finish effectively on = two=20 occasions when presented with clear runs on goal.

It was 30 = minutes=20 before Chadlington took the lead, Mark Fitzgerald's accurately = placed side=20 foot finish, following a Knight cross, capping a very competent = personal=20 display on the right of midfield.

A single goal was never a = fair=20 reflection of the superiority that Chadlington had enjoyed over = their=20 competent and workmanlike Division 1 opponents, and as the half = drew to a=20 close Charlton were mathematically still, very much, in the game. = H-T 1-0=20

Within four minutes of the restart Chadlington scored = again when a=20 long ball found Knight on the edge of the box. His dancing feet = and=20 electrifying pace sometimes gives the impression that he is = playing in=20 "fast forward" whilst everyone else is in slow motion. This lad is = seriously quick. However, on too many occasions he fails to finish = his=20 lightening approach play. This time, however, he didn't = disappoint, his=20 clinical finish from 12 yards making the score 2-0 and a half = respectable=20 score line based on the possession that Chadlington had=20 enjoyed.

Two minutes later, the "early Knights" closed in = again on=20 Charlton, albeit a day prematurely and it was three, effectively = game=20 over!

Chadlington were now playing with the up most = confidence and=20 panache, nobody more than Chris Forde, brought in to the starting = line up=20 to add weight and support to Herbert and Knight.

What you = see is=20 what you get with Forde. 90 minutes of all action, no nonsense, = totally=20 committed graft, so reminiscent of the ex Crystal Palace , Wolves = and=20 England midfield marauder Geoff Thomas. A true footballer's = footballer and=20 a pleasure for the Chadlington management team to work with. =

But I=20 digress, there were still goals aplenty.

On 77 minutes, = Knight=20 added another trick to his bulging repertoire, this time a magical = feint.=20 Picture the scene. A dropped shoulder, a drag, a quick "sighter", = a left=20 foot drive, a hat trick'. A prodigal son returned to the fold! = Welcome=20 back my son!

Just before the close came the fifth. A corner = from=20 Knight delivered beyond the far post was met on the volley by Alan = Shadbolt. It looked like a contender for goal of the season for = the rotund=20 custodian of the centre circle, but it wasn't to be. His shot hit = Wayne=20 Beauchamp and rocketed into the net much to the glee of the = swashbuckling=20 defender who was enjoying yet another forward = forage.

Manager Wyatt=20 would have been generally satisfied with his team's display, = another clean=20 sheet making it only three goals conceded in six competitive = starts. A=20 heady statistic, not to mention excellent defending. However, only = 12=20 goals scored can not be regarded as an accurate return on chances = created.=20 But today is not the day to fret over that. A five goal victory,=20
Charlbury in the next round and the return of Knight Rider = will do for=20 now, thank you very much!

Team; Smith,D.=20 Cleevely,Murphy,Beauchamp,McCabe,Fitzgerald,Ellis,Forde,R.=20 Wyatt,Herbert,
Knight. Substitutes: Shadbolt(55),J.=20 Wyatt(65),Tinkham(68)

MOM - Knight or = Forde?=20 With a hat-trick, the choice of Knight looks to be a "no brainer". = But no,=20 this weeks accolade goes to Chris Forde. He = epitomises=20 what makes a great midfielder. He was everywhere. Fighting, = contesting,=20 niggling, closing, supporting, linking..... Do you want me to go=20 on?

 

 

Saturday 20th October 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Adderbury 1

     Chadlington 1
D Cleevely
   

MOM -Gary Murphy
- = another fine=20 match

   
Dan Cleevely
- = scored equaliser=20

Cleevely Secures A = Point

In perfect playing conditions, on a cloudless = autumn=20 day, Chadlington managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat = with a=20 last gasp equaliser from diminutive defender Danny = Cleevely.

How=20 Chadlington came to be in a position of being a goal down would = have taxed=20 the management skills of Ferguson, Wenger and Mourinho, but that's = how=20 they found themselves after a brilliant strike from Adderbury = striker Lee=20 Byrne.

Chadlington started the game in a positive manner = and for=20 the first 15 minutes over ran the young but quick Adderbury side. = Three,=20 maybe four half chances were spurned, the most spectacular being a = searing=20 17 yard drive from Gary Murphy that the keeper did well to push=20 away.

Adderbury then came more into the game, but except = for a=20 cross, dropped but quickly retrieved by Nick Heritage, caused no = trouble=20 to the strong back four of the visitors. H-T 0-0

Just = after the=20 hour, and slightly against the run of play, Adderbury Park scored = a goal=20 that would have graced the Premiership, no, the Champions league,=20 correction again, the World Cup!!! Following a free kick on the = right, the=20 ball dropped to home striker Byrne on the right corner of the = penalty=20 area. Controlling the ball and swivelling in one smooth movement = he hit an=20 unstoppable volley across Heritage into the far corner of the net, = a quite=20 brilliant strike for Adderbury and a "jaw dropper" for Robbie = Wyatt's=20 men.

However, Chadlington's response was immediate, and a = minute=20 after Byrne's wonder goal, should have been level, Matt Ellis = guiding a=20 six yard header wide when it was easier to score. Oh = dear!

With all=20 three substitutes freshening Chadlington's attack it was now one = way=20 traffic and even Murphy, a colossus at the back, came striding = forward to=20 add weight to a front line that were becoming increasingly anxious = as they=20 chased the game. A fraction more quality in their approach play = and more=20 composure in the box were two ingredients that were required if=20 Chadlington were to get back on level terms. Oh how their attack = screamed=20 out for a Greaves, a Rooney, a Lineker, or a Hector, all = unavailable to=20 Wyatt until the January transfer window opens!

But then, = in the 87=20 minute Chadlington burst Adderbury's dam with a classic poachers = goal from=20 Danny Cleevely. What he was doing in the six yard box to turn in = Dave=20 Herbert's parried shot is anyone's guess, probably still returning = from a=20 forward run just after half time was one comment heard from the = technical=20 area. Whatever, Cleevely's sixth sense, presence, awareness and = stealth=20 were what Chadlington had been needing for nigh on an hour and a = half and=20 his close range "tap in" was sufficient to grab a point, a point = that=20
could and should have been so easily three!!

On the = positive=20 side, Chadlington were their usual solid self at the back, both = Murphy and=20 Wayne Beauchamp "towers of strength" at the heart of the = defence,only one=20 goal conceded in four league games a testimony to that. At the = other end=20 though, only six goals scored, the second lowest return in the = league,=20 certainly doesn't reflect the superiority seen in Chadlington's = play. It's=20 becoming a slight problem, no, a challenge to "rookie" Manager = Wyatt as he=20 prepares his team for the Charity Cup game against Charlton this = Saturday!=20

Team:=20 = Heritage,Cleevely,Murphy,Beauchamp,McCabe,Gilbert,Shadbolt,R.Wyatt,Tinkha= m,
Herbert,Ellis.=20 Substitutes: J.Wyatt (60),Forde(72),Fitgerald=20 (72).

MOM - Again, Gary=20 Murphy. Like good wine, he seems to improve with
age. = His=20 strength, tackling, ability to read the game and distribution were = all=20
of the highest level. Not much else to add=20 = really!!!!

Saturday 13th October 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Chadlington 3
   Kennington 0
J Wyatt,S Knight,M Fitzgerald
   
  

Gary Murphy

  
Steve Knight

Comfortable Three Points =

A measure of how far Chadlington = have come=20 this season can be measured by the mood of the management team = after its=20 competent and comprehensive 3-0 home win over lowly Kennington on=20 Saturday.

Clearly, the best defensive record in the league, = with no=20 goals against, will have pleased Player/Coach Gary Murphy, as will = much of=20 the approach play by a team desperately striving to play the = football that=20 player manager Robbie Wyatt demands. However, a three goal return = does not=20 altogether reflect the pressure and chances that were created over = the 90=20 minutes of play. Nevertheless, if there is any consolation, and to = paraphrase a Norwegian commentator, "Someone, one day, is going to = get one=20 hell of a beating"!!

Kennington were a powerful side, = belying their=20 lowly league position, strong and quick at the back and physically = muscular in midfield, contesting every loose ball. Two bookings = for the=20 home midfield duo Robbie Wyatt and Alan Shadbolt, compared to none = for the=20 opposition, being a testament to that.

It took 33 minutes = for=20 Chadlington to break down the visitor's defence; Danny Cleevely, = released=20 forward from defensive duties, delivering a good ball into the box = where=20 it was contested by Steve Knight and visitor's defender Jamie = Cattell. The=20 deflection that followed ran kindly for Jamie Wyatt who cleanly = despatched=20 a 10 yard drive for his first goal of the season.

Three = minutes=20 later it was nearly two, again Cleevely marauding forward to hit = the far=20 post with a rasping 20 yard drive reminiscent of ex West Bromwich = and=20 England stalwart Carlton Palmer at his best! Carlton now owns a = pub in=20 Sheffield. Oh,the irony! H-T 1-0

Six minutes after the = break it=20 was two. A long clearance from goal keeper Nick Heritage, = redundant for=20 much of the game, was held up well by stocky striker Matt Ellis, = before=20 running free to the quicksilver feet of Steve Knight. Two broken = tackles=20 later the ball was nestling safely in the corner of Richard = O'Donka's net=20 and the game was all but over.

With Wyatt keen to see other = squad=20 players in action, substitutes Dave Herbert, Mark Fitzgerald and = Adam=20 Tinkham were introduced and almost immediately Fitzgerald made his = mark on=20 the game.

Receiving the ball on the right, "Fatzy" as he is = affectionately known to his friends (and enemies) wriggled and = squirmed at=20 slightly less than breathtaking speed before firing a cross cum = shot=20 towards the back post. It may just have taken a slight deflection, = (oh=20 come on, be fair, it took a massive deflection) before beating the = wrong=20 footed O'Donka. Quite clearly Fitzgerald's goal, as he explained = to the=20 press contingent when buying their beer after the game!!! =

So, a=20 solid performance from Wyatt's men which takes them up to fourth = in the=20 league and on to the next game, at Adderbury Park in a weeks time. =

In summary, "the bar has been raised higher this season" = with=20 players now expecting to win, and win well, something that is = never always=20 possible and can never be predicted. In the Manager's mind there = could=20 still be two or three positions that he would like to strengthen = before he=20 has a tight defence, create imaginatively in midfield, and finish=20 clinically. Realistically though, a seasons total of five goals = scored=20 with none conceded will do very nicely for now, thank you!!!=20
  =20 =
Team:Heritage,D.Cleevely,Murphy,Beauchamp,McCabe,Gilbert,Shadbolt,R.W= yatt,J.Wyatt,
Knight,Ellis.
Sustitutes:Herbert=20 (60),Fitzgerald (75),Tinkham (75).

MOM - Gary=20 Murphy with a quite awesome performance. Strong in the=20
tackle, great distribution and tremendous marshalling  of = his=20 back four, he
played magnificently. He also brought the best = out of=20 central defender Wayne
Beauchamp at the heart of the=20 = defence. 

 

Saturday 6th October 2007
Oxfordshire = Senior League=20 - Premier Division

Eynsham 0
   Chadlington 0 =
 

Robbie Wyatt

 
Nick Heritage

Missed Chances At = Eynsham

Player Manager Robbie Wyatt would have tossed = in his bed=20 late into the night,
unsure whether to laugh or cry after = helping his=20 side earn a 0-0 draw at league
leaders Eynsham on = Saturday.

To=20 restrict the home side's opportunities to three or four crosses = during the=20 entire game, "food and drink" for keeper Nick Heritage, would have = given=20 him great satisfaction, but to see his side create at least six = gilt edged=20 chances and squander them all would have left him with very mixed = feelings=20 as he pulled the quilt high over his well coiffured head. =

Against=20 an unbeaten side, Chadlington, at times, played very well. They = looked=20 strong and secure at the back, creative in midfield and dangerous = up front=20 with the speed of Shaun Gilbert and Steve Knight proving a = constant threat=20 to the ageing Eynsham backline. Matt Ellis also led the line well, = his=20 large frame able to hold the ball up well until he received = support.=20

Some senior officiados at the club said that they had not = seen a=20 more mature performance since legend John O'Hare graced the = Baseball=20 ground at Derby in the 60's!

But, the game ended scoreless, = with=20 Chadlington rueing their missed chances and the loss of two = points.=20 Besides Wyatt, main offenders Gilbert, Knight and Akers would also = have
been tossing as they remembered how close they came to = scoring and=20 giving everyone present the satisfaction they = deserved!
 
Team:=20 = Heritage,D.Cleevely,Beauchamp,Akers,McCabe,Gilbert,Murphy,Shadbolt,R.Wyat= t,
Knight,Ellis.=20 Subs: = Forde(68),Tinkham,Fitzgerald.
 
MOM.=20 Just eclipsing Matt Ellis, Robbie Wyatt, with an=20 inspirational and energetic display on the left side of=20 = midfield.
 

 

Oxfordshire Senior League
Premier = Division
22nd=20 Septemebr 2007

 Rover Cowley 2 =
Chadlington=20 1
(M Fitzgerald)

MOM - Wayne Beauchamp

No Happy Rover = Return

Sadly, the Presidents Cup will not be gracing the trophy = cabinet in=20 Chadlington=92s Sports and Social club this year after they tamely = went out=20 of the competition, losing 2-1 to a competent Rover Cowley side in = Oxford=20 yesterday.

A tome resembling =93War and Peace=94 could be written = analysing the defeat=20 but, after all the words had been scribed, a simple and accurate = one line=20 summary would say, =93Too many players did not want to win badly=20 enough=94!

Chadlington started well enough, their early = work being=20 impressive, and for 25 minutes Shaun Gilberts speed down the right = caused=20 many problems for the Rover defence. However, poor finishing and = careless=20 final balls kept the game level.

Then, almost as a punishment for neglectful finishing, = Chadlington=20 leaked two poor goals in the space of 10 minutes, both from free = kicks=20 conceded by Kevin Mulhearn and Adam Tinkham.

The overall indifferent attitude that prevailed for the latter = part of=20 the first session was not to the liking of Manager Robbie Wyatt = who was=20 left with little alternative but to deliver a half time, no = nonsense wake=20 up call to his team. Poor finishing, lax defending and a general = =93laissez=20 faire=94 attitude do not impress a Manager with ambition!

The team=92s response was positive and predictably Chadlington = had the=20 majority of the play in the second half as Rover tired, but a lack = of=20 shots on target when well placed, plus the inside of the upright = from a=20 fierce drive by Mark Fitzgerald kept them scoreless until = Tinkham=92s 20=20 yard cross shot six minutes from time gave the visitors a glimmer = of hope.=20 Alas though, too little, too late!

Well, what went wrong?

Sadly, quite a lot! Most importantly, too many players lacked = that raw=20 competitive edge that is essential when playing on a hard, bumpy = surface=20 where the ball is never completely under control. Too many times = the Rover=20 midfield was first to loose balls, brushing aside half hearted = challenges=20 all to easily for Wyatt=92s liking.

The Manager quite correctly wants his side to move the ball = crisply and=20 accurately in order to create space but players must learn that to = do that=20 they must first have the ball under control. So many first time = passes=20 went astray and valuable possession lost when a first touch, then = play=20 would have been more suitable considering the under foot = conditions.=20 Finishing was also a concern, with no real cutting edge in the box = to tuck=20 away chances that were in abundance early and late in the game. =

On the day Chadlington missed the cool head and composure of = Player=20 Coach Gary Murphy but with a squad of 20 players, injuries and the = inevitable suspensions should not hinder the progress of this new = and at=20 times very exciting side. As knowledgeable people close to the = club know,=20 Chadlington now have the players with the potential to take the = club to=20 the next level and it would be wrong to be over critical after = just one=20 mediocre display. Good, as well as poor areas can be sited in a=20 performance that, on another day could so easily have gone their = way.

Robbie Wyatt is experienced enough not to let one defeat = trouble him=20 too much, but you can be sure that his analytical mind will be = reviewing=20 this performance and drawing conclusions on the players who are = =93fair=20 weather=94 performers and those who will =93fight in the = trenches=94 when the=20 going gets tough!

Hopefully, Chadlington will be able to put this defeat behind = them and=20 select from an injury free squad for their next game, a league = encounter=20 at Eynsham in two weeks time. Murphy and Antony Akers should be = fit, so=20 too should Wayne Beauchamp who, yesterday, suffered a sickening = deep cut=20 just above the eye that required a total of 12 stitches.

Beauchamp=92s vision was badly impaired after a nasty clash of = heads with=20 Rover striker Desmond but you can be sure that Wyatt=92s vision = will be=20 20/20 clear when he selects the side to take the field at the home = of a=20 side riding high in the Premier league.

Players with character and pride as well as footballing skills = will be=20 right in the forefront of the Manager=92s mind when he selects his = 11 to=20 reverse this early set back in his teams progress.

MOM - Wayne=20 Beauchamp - for a solid performance at the back prior to = his eye=20 injury.

Team: Heritage, Tinkham, McCabe, Shadbolt,=20 Beauchamp, Mulhearn, Gilbert, Forde, Forrester, R. Wyatt, Knight. =

Subs: Ellis (43), Fitzgerald (63), J. Wyatt(66).

 

 

Oxfordshire Senior League
Premier=20 Division
8th Septemebr 2007

 Rover Cowley 0
Chadlington = 2 (S=20 Gilbert 2)

Off To Winning Start =

Chadlington started this year=92s campaign = with much=20 anticipation ahead of what will hopefully be a prosperous season. = The=20 question today to be asked from new player/ manager Robbie Wyatt = was could=20 this new look side gel enough to deliver against last year's = league=20 runners-up Rover Cowley. This would surely be a good bench mark on = things=20 to come.

The game started sprightly and the first ten = minutes=20 were even with few chances at either end. As the game developed it = was=20 Chadlington however, who came to the fore with Sean Gilbert=92s = pace down=20 the right hand side causing problems to the home side repeatedly. =

It then came as no surprise when after 17 = minutes=20 Chadlington were awarded a corner. Wyatt=92s accurately delivered = ball=20 enticed the home keeper into an area which was unfamiliar and this = resulted in the ball falling to the feet of Gilbert who = re-adjusted=20 himself and smashed home from 15 yards with a powerfully struck = low drive=20 in to the far corner of the goal.

It was now Chadlington that really took = control of this=20 game and were sweeping forward time and time again with the pacey = wing=20 play of Wyatt and Gilbert.

Chadlington scored their second shortly after = when=20 Wyatt=92s cross field volley was dealt with poorly by the = Rover-rear guard=20 resulting in Sean =91sniffer=92 Gilbert pouncing on the edge of = the area and=20 coolly slotting the ball past the on rushing and experienced = keeper,=20 Kirk.

Minutes later it could have and should have = been 3 as=20 Chad broke again down the right with the pacey wide play of the = gifted=20 Gilbert. This time he almost turned provider with a well delivered = ball=20 across the face of the goal that landed at the feet Nick Forrester = but=20 unfortunately just as he was about to tap the ball home it took a = slight=20 deflection which stopped him from scoring a simple tap in on his = debut.=20 This turned out to be a very lucky escape for the home side!!

After this the shape of the game seemed to = change as=20 Chad seemed content with their 2-0 lead. Rover Cowley huffed and = puffed=20 for the remainder of the half and kept possession well with the=20 influential Fontaine pulling the strings in a three man central = midfield.=20 As half-time drew Rover Cowley nearly pulled one back with a shot = from the=20 edge of the area however this was comfortably dealt with by the = assured=20 visitors =91keeper Nick Heritage.

H-T Rover Cowley 0 Chadlington 2

At half time Rover Cowley made some tactical = changes to=20 try and suppress Gilbert and they managed to do a better job on = him than=20 the first half. The half continued in similar fashion with Rover = Cowley=20 playing some nice football at times but not really troubling the=20 Chadlington back four or goal.

As the half progressed they did expose the = solid defence=20 of Chadlington on a couple of occasions and on 60 minutes a golden = opportunity fell to the feet of their big striker but a rushed = effort went=20 tirelessly wide. Another opportunity with 15 mins to go came from = a=20 perfectly weighted pass inside the Chad left full back that again = resulted=20 in a rushed effort where really they should have done better.

Apart from that it was Chadlington who always = looked in=20 control and playing some good free flowing football of their own = at times=20 which certainly would have graced a side from a higher level of = the=20 football pyramid.

Cowley seemed to tire as the half progressed = and the=20 introduction of Steve Knight mid-way through the half certainly = didn=92t=20 help their cause as he was causing havoc time and time again with = his=20 excellent movement and pace. On another day and with a bit more = luck Chad=20 could have won by a greater margin.

Chris Forde impressed when he replaced the = hard working=20 Fitzgerald who must have covered every blade of grass as did Jamie = Wyatt=20 who came on the last ten minutes and gave Gilbert a much deserved = rest as=20 his job for the day was done.

Full Time: Rover Cowley 0.2 Chadlington

So, in reflection, an impressive performance = all round=20 from this new look Chadlington side. After scoring two goals in = the first=20 half you always felt that they were in total control and could = have upped=20 the tempo if required at anytime but it just was not necessary. =

There were some good performances all round = with nobody=20 really having a bad game. If Wyatt can keep this large talented = squad of=20 players fit and happy I am sure they will be sniffing around for = honours=20 come next May.

MOM - it could have been = skipper Gary=20 Murphy who marshalled the excellent back four so well or Alan = Shadbolt's=20 hard-work rate and powerful display from the middle of the park. = However,=20 MOM is awarded to two goal hero Sean Gilbert with = his=20 excellent display of old fashioned wing play.

Team: Heritage 8, Tinkham 7, Murphy 8, = Beauchamp 8,=20 McCabe 7, GILBERT 9 (J Wyatt 7, 80 mins), Shadbolt 8, Fitzgerald 7 = (Forde=20 7, 75 mins), R.Wyatt 7, Ellis 6, Forrester 6 (Knight 7, 65=20 mins).