CUMNOR BEAT RADLEY WITH GREAT PERFORMANCE

Cumnor came into their first big game of the season with a few injury worries. Luke and Freddie were suffering from back problems and Alex had a cold. Dave, who had decided not to worry about the game, started to worry. Fortunately all boys felt that they were fit to play.

Radley started better and looked very dangerous in the first 10 minutes. A couple of crosses were just out of the Radley attackers reach. Very slowly Cumnor worked their way into the game. Fraser and Shaun were linking up very well. A cross from Fraser found the head of Luke. His great header just drifted past the post.

Radley suffered a blow as Declan Field injured himself taking a free kick. He strained his groin which was a big blow to Radley.

At the other end, Radley won a corner. It was taken and flew into the Cumnor 6 yard area. Robbie came out and grasped the ball out of the air. A great catch. Mark was now getting on top of Joe, the Radley winger. He gave him very little room. Because of this, Cumnor's defence was starting to take control.

Harri, who is growing into his midfield role, made another important stop.

At the other end Cumnor pressed. Robbie and Declan, in the Radley defence, stopped all attacks in the air. Suddenly Cumnor made a breakthrough. Shaun won the ball in midfield. The ball was flicked on by Bradley to Freddie. He shrugged of the Radley defender and slipped the ball past the approaching Radley goalie. It hit the back of the net. It was 1-0 to Cumnor.

Radley went on the offensive. Jordi made a great interception and started another Cumnor attack. Shaun took the ball and found Fraser. He raced ahead and as he entered the box he left the goalie with no chance as he fired an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.

Radley hit back. They won a free kick just outside the box. It was fired in but Robbie made a great interception with a great punch which fired the ball up the field. Bradley was causing the Radley defence lots of problems with his strong running. One run gave Cumnor a corner. Harri , who was having a great game, lifted the ball into the box. Fraser and Bradley tried to connect but the ball was only cleared to Kieren. He steadied himself and slammed the ball into the back of the net. What a goal! It was 3-0. Cumnor were in dreamland. The referee blew for half time.

Radley took a long time to come out for the second half. Cumnor started the 2nd half the same way as they ended the first. Wrighty cleared the ball up the field. The ball eventually went out for a goal kick. The goalie passed the ball to his left back. Fraser pressed the defender and won the ball. He moved into the box and slammed the ball into the back of the net. It was 4-0.

Ben and Adam were brought on. Adam showed some great skills and was opening up the Radley defence. A few chances came but Cumnor could not convert. Radley were starting to come back into the game. Tim had to be off his line very quickly to stop a couple of attacks. Tom, in the Radley midfield, was trying his best to open the Cumnor defence. He found Joe who controlled the ball and hit a high ball into the back of the net . It was 4-1.

Ben started another Cumnor attack. He passed to Shaun who was brought down just outside the box. Wrighty took the free kick but it drifted past.

Alex had to be very sharp to stop a Radley attack. Having a cold did not stop his determination.

Another attack so Bradley fire a great shot into the back of the net. The goalie made a great stop. It landed at Freddie's feet who slipped the ball into the net. It was 5-1.

FINAL SCORE:

RADLEY 1 CUMNOR MINORS 5

MAN OF THE MATCH: MARK

Mark had a great game against the Radley danger man. He never left him and made some great stops. Well played.

What a great performance. Radley are a great side but Cumnor never stopped running. As one Radley Dad said, Cumnor wanted it more. No matter what happens the rest of the year, this result will keep us smiling during the winter months.

Dave, Wayne and Kev have now built a great footballing side who play for each other and never stop trying.

CUMNOR CRUISE INTO THE SECOND ROUND

A trip to Reading awaited the Cumnor team on a wet Sunday afternoon. The first round of the B&B Cup would KO off at 14:00. Everybody knows that Dave starts to get nervous when a game against Radley approaches. Normally straight forward decisions become difficult. Dave circulated various post codes for the visit to Reading confusing the mums and dads.. Fortunately, apart from one person, all Cumnor players were present well before kick off. With minutes before kick off, Wrighty was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly he was located in Woodcote 10 miles away. A trip that normally takes 20 minutes took Fred 31 seconds and Wrighty arrived in time to take his place in the team.

Cumnor looked comfortable from the kick off and Fraser and Freddie linked up to set up Bradley. Bradley, who looked full of energy after his 20 hour sleep, gave the goalie no chance. It was 1-0.

Westwood attacked and scored an equaliser. It was 1-1. Cumnor did not panic and a flurry of goals put the game out of Westwood's reach.

A penalty was awarded to Cumnor on the next attack. Wrighty stepped up to take the penalty. He made no mistake. It was 2-1. Across from Fraser saw Freddie chest the ball into the back of the net.

Robbie made a good stop. He slipped the ball to Alex who is growing in confidence. He delivered the ball to Luke. He moved forward and found Freddie who made no mistake to make it 4-1. Kieren had a long shot but the ball drifted past. Wrighty and Fraser added to the tally and took it to 6-1. It was half time.

The second half saw lots of attempts at goal. Jordi, desperate to get on the score sheet was making some great runs. He came close on a couple of occasions. Shaun started and finished a great move. His final shot was just past the post. Shaun kicked the ground in frustration.

Mark still had to deal with a few attacks on the left hand side but mostly the action was at the other end.

Ibby and Adam linked up well on the left and were causing lots of problems. Shaun, Bradley, Adam, Jordi and Fraser all hit the bar. Goals were slow in coming in the second half but eventually Cumnor finished the game. Goals from Bradley[2], Fraser and Ibby made it 10-1. At the other end, Tim had to make a couple of stops but had an easy afternoon. It might be busier next Sunday.

The referee blew and the game was over.

Next week we play Radley. They are unbeaten so it should be a great game.

As the season is getting exciting so are the goal scoring charts. Bradley is taking a clear lead. Freddie and Fraser are not far behind. There was some dispute over Freddie's first goal. Initially he thought it was an own goal but after seeing the action replay at the end decided that he did take a touch.

GOAL SCORING CHARTS AS REQUESTED BY SHAUN

ALEX 0

BRADLEY 5

FRASER 3

FREDDIE 4

HARRI 3

MARK 0

BEN 0

SHAUN 3

ROBBIE 0

ADAM 1

JORDI 1

WRIGHTY 1

IBBY 0

TIM 0

LUKE 1

KIERAN 2

CUMNOR STAY TOP OF THE LEAGUE

Cumnor visited Oxford Blackbirds who always prove difficult at home. Ibby and Adam were back after a short break. Dave turned up very late for the game.

Cumnor started with Bradley and Freddie up front. For the first 20 minutes, Blackbirds offside trap was catching Cumnor out. Blackbirds were very disciplined and made it very difficult for Cumnor. A clash of heads with Luke and a Blackbirds' player brought the first free kick. Blackbirds fired the ball into Cumnor's box but Robbie saved well.

Robbie cleared the ball up field. Fraser controlled the ball and slipped the ball to Bradley. He took one touch and fired the ball into the back of the net. A great strike!

Jordi has settled well into right back. He made a great tackle and then passed to Luke. He found Fraser who tried a long shot which went wide.

Cumnor took little time to make it 2. A great ball from Luke found Freddie. He approached the goalie. Freddie slipped the ball to Fraser. He fired an unstoppable shot into the net. It was 2-0. As the end of the first half approached, Adam made a great run up the left. His cross was knocked out to Shaun who placed a great shot into the corner of the net. It was 3-0.

At the other end, Marcus split the Cumnor defence and passed to his other attacker. He shot but Robbie saved well.

Wrighty had to be very sharp to stop another attack.

The first half finished 3-0.

Cumnor controlled the 2nd half.

Harri made it 4 with a blistering shot which left the goalie no chance. If only West Ham had a Harri in their side. Suddenly Kieran had realised that he had not scored this season. He had one chance which was mis-hit. Then he hit two great goals. A great pass from Mark found Kieran. He controlled the ball and slammed the ball into the net.

Adam received the ball from Alex. He turned and slipped the ball into the back of the net.

Ibby who had impressed since he came on made a great run towards the Blackbirds goal. He then found Kieran who made it 7-0 with a great strike.

At the other end, Tim made a great stop from Marcus who was through with only Tim to beat.

Blackbirds attacked and Alex made a great tackle to stop a Blackbird attack. Alex was penalised and a free kick was awarded against him. In my memory, it was the first free kick ever awarded against Alex.

With 5 minutes to go, Freddie was brought down by Marcus in the box. The referee blew for a penalty. The linesman thought it was a dive. As Marcus apologised to Freddie for the tackle that seems unlikely.

Wrighty was told to take the kick. He slammed the ball into the back of the net with a great shot.

The referee looked at his watch and blew for full time.

OXFORD BLACKBIRDS 0 CUMNOR MINORS 8

MAN OF THE MATCH: KIERAN.

What a great game. A great display against a well disciplined Blackbirds defence. Cumnor played some great football but for me Wrighty was immense. Every ball he went for he won.

Next week we start the assault on the B&B Cup. It was a great experience last year. Hopefully we can do as well as we did last year. Without doubt we are a better side than last year. Wrighty, Jordi, Adam and Ibby have made a great difference. We play Westfield Wanderers who look a great side.

The week after we play Radley. What a great league. Radley will always be a big game for Cumnor.