The sun again greeted Cumnor as they welcomed Oxford Blackbirds to the Closes. Such is OBB'S determination to win the game they turned up at 10:00am. OBB are near the bottom of the league but all reports indicate that they have been unlucky so far in the league. Cumnor were without Ben and Harri for the game. Both boys turned up to support Cumnor. What dedication!
Paul Lyon was the referee for todays game. Therefore we will not see the disgraceful exhibition of refereeing that we saw last week.
Both sides came out with great zest. Cumnor were looking the more likely to score but OBB came closest with a great move down the left which saw the ball just drift past the post leaving Robbie with no chance.
Cumnor broke the deadlock when a cross from Ryan found Luke's head. The ball fell to Freddie who lobbed the goalie. Cumnor quickly went 2-0 up when a pass from Shaun found Biggy who made no mistake with a nice shot. Before the end of the first half, Freddie and Biggy had great chances to score but managed to miss the post on either side of the goal. Robbie's handling was excellent on several occasions. Luke was having his best game of the season with some bone crunching tackles. In the last minutes of the half, OBB scored a deserved goal. It was 2-1 at half-time.
The second half saw Cumnor move further ahead. Ollie made a great stop and found Shaun. Shaun fired the ball forward. Biggy latched onto the ball and fired in a great shot. The goalie had no chance. A ball from Ryan found Freddie who turned and slipped the ball into the net.
At the other end Tim made a great reflex save to keep the score at 4-1. Alex made a great sliding tackle when it looked that the defender was past him. OBB had another attack. The attacker raced round Sam and fired an unstoppable shot into the net. It was 4-2. Henry was pushed forward into midfield. He was showing what a versatile player he is. Since the shackles of defence was removed, he raced forward at every opportunity. Mark was called into action as OBB went through their best spell. He had to make a great tackle to stop a very dangerous situation. Robbie was being his usual no nonsense self at the back. Sam made a couple of important stops.
Suddenly the goals started popping in for Cumnor. Another 2 for Biggy. A great solo effort by Fraser. He picked the ball up in his own half and raced forward. He beat a couple of players. He passed to Luke who passed back. He raced in on goal and rammed the ball into the net. Well done Fraser. Probably the biggest cheer came for a great opportunist goal by Henry. Henry fired in from short range to open his account for the season. In fact, because Henry had never been that far up the park he got lost on the way back to the Cumnor half. Shaun hit the post[with the ball] and it rolled along the line. Luke came close with a great shot. Ryan had a couple of great shots from outside the box but the balls were blocked.
The game finished at 8-2 to Cumnor.
CUMNOR MINORS 8 OXFORD BLACKBIRDS 2
MAN OF THE MATCH:FRASER SHIELDS.
A good game. Some great football with some lovely passing moves. Cup football next week against Crowmarsh who have been performing well in the B league.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Sunday, 18 November 2007
KENNINGTON BRING CUMNOR BACK DOWN TO EARTH
Rain greeted Cumnor as they arrived to play Kennington. The new away strips were going to be ruined. We told Martin not to use white in the strips- but the boys looked good.
Cumnor had the best possible start. Fraser won the ball in midfield. He passed to Biggy. Biggy raced up the left hand side and shrugged of a few tackles. He then slipped the ball to Freddie who flicked the ball into the net. It was 1-0 to Cumnor. Kennington pushed forward. A shot came firing towards Robbie and he made a fantastic instinctive safe. Cumnor were against the slope and the wind. Henry was a colossus at the back. He covered every ball. Alex had to be at his best. Alex showed great awareness at the back.
Kennington made another attack and Mark came from nowhere to stop the attack. Shaun was pushing up on the right hand side. His natural attacking tendency was pushing him forward and he was linking well with Ryan and Freddie. Luke and Harri were stopping Kennington in their tracks. Luke, Harri and Fraser were always looking to pass the ball.
A Kennington attack opened up the Cumnor defence. Kennington scored with a lofted shot. It was 1-1.
Cumnor attacked again. Luke won the ball in midfield. He passed to Freddie. Freddie held off the defender and slipped the ball into the middle and Ryan raced in to make it 2-1. Cumnor were looking good. With seconds to go, Kennington equalised. It was 2-2.
The second half started with Cumnor on top. A goal had to come. Great passing was opening up the defence but we could not finish. Kennington attacked. The ball came racing into the penalty box. After a deflection, the ball accidentally hit Alex's hand. As everyone was about to play on the referee blew for a penalty. A soft penalty. The Kennington player fired the penalty into the top right corner. Tim flew across to push the ball for a corner. What a save. The referee decided to retake the penalty because of a minor infringement. The penalty was retaken and it was 3-2 to Kennington. The referee was happy with that penalty. I am sure that the penalty would not have to be retaken until they scored but you never know.
Before the game restarted, the referee had a discussion with Martin. After some time, he seemed to be giving Martin some instructions on how to get to the tuck shop. What a helpful chap!
Kennington took charge after this and were looking dangerous. Cumnor still wanted to play football. Tim had to be very sharp to make some important stops. Robbie and Ollie worked hard to get Cumnor moving. As a last throw of the dice, Dave threw on Sam. Cumnor won a corner in the last minutes. Harri fired in a perfect corner. Biggy, Freddie and Luke just missed getting a crucial touch.
The referee blew the final whistle. It was 3-2 to Kennington.
Final Score:
Kennington 3 Cumnor Minors 2
MAN OF THE MATCH: HENRY GORDON.
Some of the football that Cumnor played was a joy to watch. Good passing and great awareness. Without doubt, Dave is instilling the Arsenal way of playing and we can only get better. Overall Kennington deserved the victory and will always be a very difficult team to beat. The referee had a poor game.
Cumnor had the best possible start. Fraser won the ball in midfield. He passed to Biggy. Biggy raced up the left hand side and shrugged of a few tackles. He then slipped the ball to Freddie who flicked the ball into the net. It was 1-0 to Cumnor. Kennington pushed forward. A shot came firing towards Robbie and he made a fantastic instinctive safe. Cumnor were against the slope and the wind. Henry was a colossus at the back. He covered every ball. Alex had to be at his best. Alex showed great awareness at the back.
Kennington made another attack and Mark came from nowhere to stop the attack. Shaun was pushing up on the right hand side. His natural attacking tendency was pushing him forward and he was linking well with Ryan and Freddie. Luke and Harri were stopping Kennington in their tracks. Luke, Harri and Fraser were always looking to pass the ball.
A Kennington attack opened up the Cumnor defence. Kennington scored with a lofted shot. It was 1-1.
Cumnor attacked again. Luke won the ball in midfield. He passed to Freddie. Freddie held off the defender and slipped the ball into the middle and Ryan raced in to make it 2-1. Cumnor were looking good. With seconds to go, Kennington equalised. It was 2-2.
The second half started with Cumnor on top. A goal had to come. Great passing was opening up the defence but we could not finish. Kennington attacked. The ball came racing into the penalty box. After a deflection, the ball accidentally hit Alex's hand. As everyone was about to play on the referee blew for a penalty. A soft penalty. The Kennington player fired the penalty into the top right corner. Tim flew across to push the ball for a corner. What a save. The referee decided to retake the penalty because of a minor infringement. The penalty was retaken and it was 3-2 to Kennington. The referee was happy with that penalty. I am sure that the penalty would not have to be retaken until they scored but you never know.
Before the game restarted, the referee had a discussion with Martin. After some time, he seemed to be giving Martin some instructions on how to get to the tuck shop. What a helpful chap!
Kennington took charge after this and were looking dangerous. Cumnor still wanted to play football. Tim had to be very sharp to make some important stops. Robbie and Ollie worked hard to get Cumnor moving. As a last throw of the dice, Dave threw on Sam. Cumnor won a corner in the last minutes. Harri fired in a perfect corner. Biggy, Freddie and Luke just missed getting a crucial touch.
The referee blew the final whistle. It was 3-2 to Kennington.
Final Score:
Kennington 3 Cumnor Minors 2
MAN OF THE MATCH: HENRY GORDON.
Some of the football that Cumnor played was a joy to watch. Good passing and great awareness. Without doubt, Dave is instilling the Arsenal way of playing and we can only get better. Overall Kennington deserved the victory and will always be a very difficult team to beat. The referee had a poor game.
Monday, 12 November 2007
CUMNOR WIN AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER
Our bogey team of last year, Radley, were todays opponents. It was a game that both sides needed to win to keep themselves in contact with Didcot and Ardington.
Cumnor took the game to Radley and were looking very confident. Cumnor were having the better of the early exchanges. Luke started the game with great enthusiasm. He was stopping any Radley attacks and then starting the Cumnor attacks. Cumnor were using both wings with Shaun and Harri racing up and down the line.
The first chance fell to Cumnor. Fraser pushed the ball to Freddie. Freddie stopped and passed to Biggy. Biggy fired in a great shot but it just went wide. Shaun won the ball in midfield. He passed to Freddie. Freddie slipped the ball to Luke. Luke moved into the box and fired an unstoppable shot into the net. It was 1-0 to Cumnor.
Harri fired the ball forward and it found Fraser. The ball was slipped to Freddie who passed to Biggy. Biggy fired the ball high into the net. Cumnor had a couple more chances but could not finish them off. Mark was having a great game with some great tackles. Alex had to be at his best to keep the winger quiet. Robbie and Henry are forming a great partnership at the back.
The first half finished 2-0 to Cumnor.
Cumnor yet again controlled the game. It did not take long for Cumnor to make it 3-0. Henry made a great tackle. Alex gave the ball to Shaun. Shaun with a precision pass found Biggy who fired the ball into the net. Luke, Freddie and Biggy had chances to increase the score. Ollie was making some great tackles.
With 15 minutes to go the game was won. Dave was planning his victory speech. Kev was thinking it was his perfect weekend--West Ham winning, Cumnor winning and one of the Radley Dads was also a West Ham supporter. They did not talk to each other but they both had that haunted look. What a day! Ollie was planning what he was going to say to Mitch at school on Monday.
No-one can explain what happened next. Tim who was having a quiet afternoon suddenly found himself under pressure. He had to make two great saves. One looked a certain goal but he saved well. Then Radley grabbed a goal to make it 3-1 and a great shot from Mitch made it 3-2.
From being in a position of total control Cumnor were pushed back. Mark was making some decisive tackles as Radley attacked. From a corner, Radley's Robbie rose and headered the ball onto the bar. Robbie and Henry were defending as if there lives depended on it. Then from no-where, Ryan won the ball and started a lightning attack. He fired the ball into the box. It dropped at Luke's feet and he fired it into the net. It is 4-2 to Cumnor. But in injury time, Mitch pulled one back. It was 4-3. With 20 seconds left, Mitch went on a dazzling run but was brought down just outside the box. The free kick would be the last kick of the ball. It was fired in but it was cleared. The final whistle went. The game was over. Well done Cumnor.
Cumnor Minors 4 Radley 3
Man of the Match: Two goal Luke Thorne.
A superb performance from Cumnor. It did look at one stage that a Radley equaliser was going to come. I am amazed that everybodys hearts stood up to the strain.
Cumnor took the game to Radley and were looking very confident. Cumnor were having the better of the early exchanges. Luke started the game with great enthusiasm. He was stopping any Radley attacks and then starting the Cumnor attacks. Cumnor were using both wings with Shaun and Harri racing up and down the line.
The first chance fell to Cumnor. Fraser pushed the ball to Freddie. Freddie stopped and passed to Biggy. Biggy fired in a great shot but it just went wide. Shaun won the ball in midfield. He passed to Freddie. Freddie slipped the ball to Luke. Luke moved into the box and fired an unstoppable shot into the net. It was 1-0 to Cumnor.
Harri fired the ball forward and it found Fraser. The ball was slipped to Freddie who passed to Biggy. Biggy fired the ball high into the net. Cumnor had a couple more chances but could not finish them off. Mark was having a great game with some great tackles. Alex had to be at his best to keep the winger quiet. Robbie and Henry are forming a great partnership at the back.
The first half finished 2-0 to Cumnor.
Cumnor yet again controlled the game. It did not take long for Cumnor to make it 3-0. Henry made a great tackle. Alex gave the ball to Shaun. Shaun with a precision pass found Biggy who fired the ball into the net. Luke, Freddie and Biggy had chances to increase the score. Ollie was making some great tackles.
With 15 minutes to go the game was won. Dave was planning his victory speech. Kev was thinking it was his perfect weekend--West Ham winning, Cumnor winning and one of the Radley Dads was also a West Ham supporter. They did not talk to each other but they both had that haunted look. What a day! Ollie was planning what he was going to say to Mitch at school on Monday.
No-one can explain what happened next. Tim who was having a quiet afternoon suddenly found himself under pressure. He had to make two great saves. One looked a certain goal but he saved well. Then Radley grabbed a goal to make it 3-1 and a great shot from Mitch made it 3-2.
From being in a position of total control Cumnor were pushed back. Mark was making some decisive tackles as Radley attacked. From a corner, Radley's Robbie rose and headered the ball onto the bar. Robbie and Henry were defending as if there lives depended on it. Then from no-where, Ryan won the ball and started a lightning attack. He fired the ball into the box. It dropped at Luke's feet and he fired it into the net. It is 4-2 to Cumnor. But in injury time, Mitch pulled one back. It was 4-3. With 20 seconds left, Mitch went on a dazzling run but was brought down just outside the box. The free kick would be the last kick of the ball. It was fired in but it was cleared. The final whistle went. The game was over. Well done Cumnor.
Cumnor Minors 4 Radley 3
Man of the Match: Two goal Luke Thorne.
A superb performance from Cumnor. It did look at one stage that a Radley equaliser was going to come. I am amazed that everybodys hearts stood up to the strain.
Monday, 5 November 2007
CUMNOR MAKE NEXT ROUND OF CUP.
Summertown Pirates were the visitors to The Closes on a lovely Sunday morning. Cup football always brings great excitement.
Cumnor had a full squad with only Harri absent. He must have been behaving really badly to be dragged along to watch West Ham. Even a trip to the Kassam sounds more exciting than West Ham v Bolton. Hopefully when Harri is old enough he will be able to support a decent team.
Cumnor took the game to Summertown but were finding it difficult to break down a very strong defence. Mark and Ollie were allowed a lot of freedom to push forwards and a goal seemed imminent. Ryan fired a lovely shot just past the post.
Suddenly the goals started. Biggy scored with a great lob and a shot into the corner. Fraser made a great run and made it 3-0. Luke found Freddie who passed a couple of players and fired it into the back of the net. Alex and Sam suddenly found themselves under pressure and had to make some decisive tackles. With another attack , Summertown scored a fine goal.
With minutes to go, Ben won the ball in midfield and found Fraser. Fraser raced forward and with only the goalie to beat, unselfishly, slipped the ball to Shaun who scored from a tight angle. It was 5-1 at half-time.
Tim made some important saves at the start of the second half. Sam was having a great game with some clever passing. Mark and Alex were finding themselves busier in the second half. Ryan again nearly scored with another fine shot. Luke was making sure that any Summertown attacks were short lived.
Biggy and Freddie made it 7-0 with 2 fine goals. Fraser then scored with a fine individual effort. Robbie then scored with a 20 yard sizzler. Biggy scored with a penalty and Fraser finished the day with 2 great goals. With minutes to go, Luke received the ball 2 yards from the goal. As everybody were about to acclaim a great goal, Luke hit the bar. Johny Wilkinson would have been proud of him.
The game finished 12-1.
Cumnor Minors 12 Summertown Pirates 1
Man of the Match: Sam Foster-a great display.
Radley are our opponents next week. It should be a great game. With Didcot losing to Ardington yesterday, the League is again wide open.
Cumnor had a full squad with only Harri absent. He must have been behaving really badly to be dragged along to watch West Ham. Even a trip to the Kassam sounds more exciting than West Ham v Bolton. Hopefully when Harri is old enough he will be able to support a decent team.
Cumnor took the game to Summertown but were finding it difficult to break down a very strong defence. Mark and Ollie were allowed a lot of freedom to push forwards and a goal seemed imminent. Ryan fired a lovely shot just past the post.
Suddenly the goals started. Biggy scored with a great lob and a shot into the corner. Fraser made a great run and made it 3-0. Luke found Freddie who passed a couple of players and fired it into the back of the net. Alex and Sam suddenly found themselves under pressure and had to make some decisive tackles. With another attack , Summertown scored a fine goal.
With minutes to go, Ben won the ball in midfield and found Fraser. Fraser raced forward and with only the goalie to beat, unselfishly, slipped the ball to Shaun who scored from a tight angle. It was 5-1 at half-time.
Tim made some important saves at the start of the second half. Sam was having a great game with some clever passing. Mark and Alex were finding themselves busier in the second half. Ryan again nearly scored with another fine shot. Luke was making sure that any Summertown attacks were short lived.
Biggy and Freddie made it 7-0 with 2 fine goals. Fraser then scored with a fine individual effort. Robbie then scored with a 20 yard sizzler. Biggy scored with a penalty and Fraser finished the day with 2 great goals. With minutes to go, Luke received the ball 2 yards from the goal. As everybody were about to acclaim a great goal, Luke hit the bar. Johny Wilkinson would have been proud of him.
The game finished 12-1.
Cumnor Minors 12 Summertown Pirates 1
Man of the Match: Sam Foster-a great display.
Radley are our opponents next week. It should be a great game. With Didcot losing to Ardington yesterday, the League is again wide open.
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