CUMNOR AND BLOXHAM PRODUCE THE MATCH OF THE DAY.

The eagerly awaited game between Cumnor and Bloxham took place at Abingdon Colts ground as The Closes was waterlogged. The pitch was in perfect condition but a cold wind kept the spectators wrapped up. Due to a colour clash, Cumnor changed to an unfamilar yellow. It was Bloxham's first year in the Oxford Mail League and were starting to find their feet. Cumnor sit proudly at the top of the league and a win would keep them there.
Bloxham started better and looked very threatening. Robbie had to make a couple of early stops. It was not long before Bloxham took the lead. A nice move down the right released their talented no 8 who swung a lovely ball over the stretching hands of Robbie into the back of the net. It was 1-0. Mark and Shaun were mostly defending on the left as Cumnor were pushed back.
Jordi was slowly starting to control his opponent. Wrighty made a great stop. He fired the ball forward. Fraser, who was looking very lively, moved forward. He then slipped a great ball behind the defence. Both Freddie and Biggy were going for the ball. Fortunately Biggy took the ball as Freddie was in an offside position. The goalie made a great dive at his feet but the ball slipped past the goalie and Biggy slammed the ball into the net. It was 1-1.
At the other end, Bloxham nearly took the lead. Wrighty passed back to Robbie. He scuffed his clearance. It landed at Lewis who slipped the ball over the top of Robbie. He jumped and punched the ball over the bar. What a save!
Kieren moved forward with the ball. He linked up with Shaun and found Biggy. He slipped a lovely ball through to Bradley. He moved towards the ball and placed a great shot into the corner of the net. A great goal. It was 2-1.
On two occasions, Mark had to make goal line clearances. He was having a great game. It is unfortunate that Mark has submitted a transfer request and still wants to leave to be nearer to his family in Devon.
Cumnor were under pressure for the remainder of the second half and it was no surprise when Bloxham equalised from a corner. The ball came of a Cumnor player's head into the back of the net. It was 2-2. The first half ended.
Dave gave a great team talk and the boys came racing out for the second half.
Cumnor were a different side in the second half. They came out searching for goals.
Bradley and Biggy came close with great shots. Freddie did well to set up Biggy. He fired a well placed cross over the goalie. Fraser slipped but Biggy controlled the ball and fired it into the back of the net. It was 3-2.
Luke was having a great game. Dave gave Luke only one task and that was to stick with Tom Bosher. He stuck to Tom like glue. Tom thought that Luke would never leave him alone. Luke was on a mission as he had to be at Wembley to support his beloved Manchester United in the Carling Cup Final. He limited him to only a couple of long range shots. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Luke does not always listen to Dave. Luke decided to leave his task and score a great goal. A ball was passed to Luke. He controlled the ball and placed it into the corner of the net. A fantastic goal!
Biggy was then released with a great pass from Fraser and moved into the box and his shot struck the bar but Freddie was racing in to tap the ball into the net.
Cumnor were now thinking that the game was over. Bloxham had other ideas. They scored two great goals. It was 5-4. Cumnor were under pressure. Bloxham broke through the middle of the Cumnor defence. A great shot was saved by Tim and pushed for a corner. Tim then had to make another great save from a fantastic shot.
Cumnor gained a free kick 30 yards out. Wrighty flighted in a great ball and Robbie rose above the defence and headered the ball into the back of the net. A great header. It was 6-4.
Alex, who was having a great game, made a great interception. He passed the ball to Adam. He moved down the left and beat two players. The second tackle nearly brought him down but he stayed on his feet but just fired wide.
Alex cleared the ball from another attack and Freddie controlled the ball and slipped the ball to Biggy who made it 7 with a great shot.
The whistle was blown and the game ended.
It was 7-4.

CUMNOR MINORS 7 BLOXHAM 4

MAN OF THE MATCH: FRASER

What a great game. Two great sides and the game played in good spirits.
A great advert for Oxford Mail football.
On a more serious issue, we have not been able to change Dave's mind about leaving Cumnor. We will need a new manager for one of the best jobs in Boy's Football:

Benefits:

You don't get paid.
Constantly told that you have made the wrong decision.
Mums and Dads complaining that their lad doesn't get a game.
Phone calls at all times of the night.
Sleepless nights worrying what team to play the next day.
Last minute phone calls declaring that their son can't make the game because of parties etc

Fortunately Cumnor are different. A great bunch of Mums and Dads who get on. Fantastic boys who play great football, are talented and want to win. We have seen Ardington and St Edmunds and numerous others fold. It can not happen to Cumnor. Lots of the lads have played together since Under 6. A lot of the lads have played against Cumnor over the years and are now part of Cumnor. If we stay together we will only get better.

CUMNOR EASE PAST MARSTON

Marston were looking for revenge after last weeks game. Cumnor wanted another 3 points to move further ahead at the top of the league. Cumnor had one eye on next weeks game against Bloxham.

Cumnor started the game on top and never looked like being in trouble. Biggy hit the post with a great shot. Fraser came close with a super shot. It was only a matter of time before Cumnor took the lead. Shaun and Fraser worked well to win a corner on the right hand side. Jordi took the corner. A perfectly flighted corner was met by Luke. He rose above the defence and headered the ball into the back of the net. It was 1-0.

Wrighty broke up a rare Marston attack and passed to Mark. He lifted the ball upfield and found Bradley. He was enjoying his role in midfield. He slipped the ball to Biggy. He did some Ronaldo footwork and slammed the ball into the back of the net.

Freddie made it 3 with a great finish.

Kieren made a great stop and pushed the ball out for a corner. The corner was taken but cleared. Marston attacked again and a shot from 20 yards ended up in the back of the net. It was 3-1. A period of Marston attack saw Robbie make a great clearance.

At the other end, a Biggy cross was met by Freddie who slipped the ball into the net. It was 4-1.

The first half finished 4-1 to Cumnor.

The second half followed the path of the first half. Adam had a shot which just went past. Ibby started another move on the left. He found Adam. He went on a great run and made it 5-1 with a great shot. Cumnor could have scored more but some bad luck stopped Cumnor scoring more.

At the other end, Marston had a shot which hit the bar and went over. Tim had it covered anyway.

Robbie and Bradley came close but the score stayed 5-1.

MARSTON SAINTS 1 CUMNOR MINORS 5

[BIGGY, FREDDIE 2, ADAM AND LUKE]

MAN OF THE MATCH: JORDI

Next week we play Bloxham. A Cumnor win would give Cumnor a great boost for the title. A win for Bloxham would bring Bloxham back into the title chase. It looks like it will be an exciting game.

CUMNOR STAY TOP OF THE LEAGUE

Cumnor approached this crucial game with only a squad of 12. Injuries and holidays had robbed Cumnor of Shaun, Kieran and Harri. It was our first home game for 2 months and it did take the dads a lot longer than usual to put up the nets. Luckily the nets were up before the start of the game.

Marston were the visitors today. The game started with both sides trying to pass the ball. It was end to end football. Marston were using the wings to attack Cumnor. Fortunately Jordi and Mark are quick enough to combat any attack. Cumnor were finding lots of joy on the right hand side. After 10 minutes Cumnor had their first chance. Adam won the ball in the midfield. He moved forward. He played a neat pass to Bradley who swung the ball out to the right. Fraser raced onto the ball. He moved forward and his shot just went past the post.

At the other end, Wrighty made a great tackle at the edge of the box to clear the ball. The ball was pushed out for a throw in. Cumnor won the ball. Alex took a couple of touches and found Luke. He fired the ball to Ibby. He neatly turned the defender. The defender mis-timed his tackle and brought him down. A clear penalty. Wrighty stepped up to take the penalty. It is always a worry before Wrighty takes a penalty. Fortunately he did not try anything different and slammed the ball into the back of the net. It was 1-0.

Tim made his first appearance outfield and immediately made an impact with some great runs.

Almost immediately Marston nearly equalised. A long ball came over the top of our defence. As the Cumnor defence left each other to clear it, the Marston attacker raced in to fire a great shot towards the Cumnor net. Robbie blocked the ball with a great save. Alex cleared the ball.

Bradley looked like he was going to make it 2-0 but his shot went wide.

There was a penalty claim in the Cumnor box as Robbie and the Marston player went shoulder to shoulder. The referee waved away the penalty claims.

It was 1-0 at half-time.

The second half started with Cumnor on top. Both Freddie and Bradley had shots wide. At last Cumnor made it two. The Marston defender and Freddie raced for a loose ball. Freddie won the ball and slipped it past the goalie into the back of the net.

Suddenly Marston had their best spell. Tim had to make great save from a corner that was taken quickly. He pushed it for another corner. The corner was taken and found a Marston head. It hit the bar and was cleared by Jordi. Another ball was cleared off the line by Alex.

A Cumnor attack started. Luke found Fraser. He found Bradley who slipped the ball to Robbie. He tapped the ball to Freddie. He took his time and slipped the ball past the goalie to make it 3-0.

After the goal, the referee decided to remove the Marston linesman to the gratitude of most of the spectators and local residents.

Cumnor finished the game off with a fantastic goal. Fraser took a corner and the goalie made a great save from Luke. The ball landed at the feet of three Cumnor players: Luke, Freddie and Robbie. Both Luke and Freddie looked at the determination on Robbie's face and decided there was only one person who was going to grab this opportunity. Robbie slammed the ball into the back of the net giving the goalie no chance.

The game finished 4-0.

CUMNOR MINORS 4 MARSTON SAINTS 0

[FREDDIE 2, ROBBIE 1 AND WRIGHTY 1]

MAN OF THE MATCH: FREDDIE

Another great performance. Next week we play Marston again. It will be another difficult game. Marston have a small park which suits their neat passing. It should be a great game.

UPDATED SCORES 14TH FEB 2010

ALEX 0

BRADLEY 15

FRASER 12

FREDDIE 15

HARRI 3

MARK 0

BEN 0

SHAUN 4

ROBBIE 3

ADAM 1

JORDI 3

WRIGHTY 6

IBBY 5

TIM 0

LUKE 1

KIERAN 3

HOPEFULLY THEY ARE ACCURATE!

CUMNOR MOVE CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE.

Cumnor returned to League football with a trip to Henley. We played Henley in the first game of the season.

Cumnor, with the exception of Alex who was ill, had a full side to choose from.

Cumnor started the game well and within ten minutes were two up. They won 2 corners. With both corners, Harri floated in perfect crosses. On both occasions, Fraser rose above his marker and headered the ball into the net.

Adam made the third with a great run. He flicked the ball to Freddie and he made it 3-0 with a nice strike. Jordi, Wrighty, Mark and Kieran formed the back line and had very little to do. Robbie made a couple of clearances but mostly kept everybody up to date with a running commentary of the game. Luke and Shaun linked up well in midfield.

In the second half, Freddie made it 4 with a nice finish. Ibby made it 5 with a great goal. He controlled the ball and fired it into the top of the net.

Bradley finished the game with a great strike into the back of the net.

Tim at the other end was showing good footwork with some nice passing.

HENLEY 0 CUMNOR MINORS 6

[FRADSER 2, FREDDIE 2, BRADLEY AND IBBY]

MAN OF THE MATCH: ADAM.