OCFC 2 - Didcot Town 2

The long-awaited local derby finally arrived on a bright and blustery Bank-Holiday afternoon. As expected there was a large crowd, of 426, eager to see the outcome of the first competitive match between the two sides for almost exactly thirty years: Didcot running out winners that day in an FA Cup match by 1-0.

The first 15 minutes saw both sides fairly cautious in their approach with the Didcot mid-field perhaps having the better of things. Heapy headed over for the visitors and Lewis Craker put a header just wide at the other end for City from a well-directed free kick (photo). Clear chances were proving hard to come by, and the best early one fell to the on-form Stuart Beavon when he volleyed just wide when a Craker header fell to him on the edge of the box. Durrant went close for City after a good run, and a cross-come-shot from Ross Weatherstone had Wilkins nervously scrabbling across his goalmouth. Anthony Alleyne’s pace was proving awkward to deal with for Didcot and he shot just over after eluding his marker, and, right at the end of the half, Danny Keen broke into the box but shot straight at Webb.

Half-Time: City 0-0 Didcot Town

Supporters were still emerging from the clubhouse as Anthony Alleyne put City ahead when he took the ball past Webb to fire home without, I think, a Didcot player touching the ball after City’s kick-off.
The home supporters’ delight was short lived, however, when, in the 47th minute, Jack King was left all alone in the box with acres of space and plenty of time to level the scores with a coolly taken shot beyond Wilkins’ right hand.

Didcot pushed on and Powell shot just high with the defence retreating; Beavon then brought a good save from Wilkins with a shot on the turn. For City Mark Jones had a fine shot after a driving run, and Danny Keen lobbed just wide with Webb stranded after leaving his area to clear from Alleyne.
The visitors grabbed the lead in the 69th minute when some good one-touch football set up Beavon for a shot and Powell was on hand to fire in from Wilkins’ initial save.

Again the crowd had hardly settled when the scores were levelled: Alleyne’s pace took him on to a sharp through ball, and he shot home from an angle past the diving Webb.
Half-chances came and went for both sides as each looked for the winner. Danny Keen shot just over, and Justin Merritt fired just wide when well set up for the Blues; while Jamie Brooks had a good shot just deflected for a corner and Paul Powell headed just wide at the end of a series of corners for the Reds.

Full-Time: Oxford City 2-2 Didcot Town

City: Wilkins, Durrant, Rendell (Burnley 73), Avery, Craker (Brandon 65), Marriott, Jones, Merritt, Alleyne, Keen (Stewart 83), R. Williams.

Reporter: ChrisB