OCFC 3 - Burnham 1
Burnham were the visitors for a quick rematch of the teams’ meeting in August on quite a thin evening both in terms of the temperature and crowd (119): maybe the allure of the Kassam was more of an attraction for some of the locals. And the question was: could City display that same ‘bouncebackability’ after the Cup disappointment as they did after the home reverse against Taunton?
The first exchanges were fairly even with neither side really getting close enough to test the keepers. For City Ray Spence’s pace was, as ever, proving to be a thorn in the side of the Burnham defence; Greg Williams was getting forward well and showing some excellent touches; and for the visitors Stewart Swift was working hard.
As the half developed Burnham were beginning to produce more chances: Swift’s low shot brought a good save from Wilkins; Lunn headed just wide having drifted in at the far post; and Jones fired just over from distance.
City came closer in the final 15 minutes of the half with Mark Jones’ passing and dead-ball accuracy producing near-misses for Durrant and Alleyne, and Justin Merritt testing Jackson from the edge of the area.
HALF TIME: City 0-0 Burnham
Although Spence and Avery both went close in the opening minutes of the second session, it was Burham who took the lead on 57 minutes when Gibson found space for himself on the goal-line and his low cross was turned in by Swift.
The home side were back on terms nine minutes later as Anthony Alleyne, chased by Dominic White, latched onto a through ball. The Burnham keeper collided with his own defender and the ball span free to Alleyne: his first shot was blocked on the line, but Ray Spence made no mistake with the rebound.
City were growing in confidence now, and took the lead in the 77th minute when Alleyne was brought down near the edge of the area and a hotly-disputed penalty was awarded. Mark Jones and Ray Spence discussed momentarily who should take the kick, but Spence hung on to the ball and fired City low and hard into the lead.
The Blues held on to their advantage with Burnham’s attack generally well held by a defence that was alternately cajoled and cursed into keeping its shape by Lewis Craker.
With a minute to go to the whistle Danny Keen took the ball into the corner and, with two defenders in close proximity, looked to be going nowhere until a great bit of footwork took him clear and along the goal-line to provide Greg Williams with a chance that he gleefully accepted from short-range.
FULL-TIME: Oxford City 3-1 Burnham
The first exchanges were fairly even with neither side really getting close enough to test the keepers. For City Ray Spence’s pace was, as ever, proving to be a thorn in the side of the Burnham defence; Greg Williams was getting forward well and showing some excellent touches; and for the visitors Stewart Swift was working hard.
As the half developed Burnham were beginning to produce more chances: Swift’s low shot brought a good save from Wilkins; Lunn headed just wide having drifted in at the far post; and Jones fired just over from distance.
City came closer in the final 15 minutes of the half with Mark Jones’ passing and dead-ball accuracy producing near-misses for Durrant and Alleyne, and Justin Merritt testing Jackson from the edge of the area.
HALF TIME: City 0-0 Burnham
Although Spence and Avery both went close in the opening minutes of the second session, it was Burham who took the lead on 57 minutes when Gibson found space for himself on the goal-line and his low cross was turned in by Swift.
The home side were back on terms nine minutes later as Anthony Alleyne, chased by Dominic White, latched onto a through ball. The Burnham keeper collided with his own defender and the ball span free to Alleyne: his first shot was blocked on the line, but Ray Spence made no mistake with the rebound.
City were growing in confidence now, and took the lead in the 77th minute when Alleyne was brought down near the edge of the area and a hotly-disputed penalty was awarded. Mark Jones and Ray Spence discussed momentarily who should take the kick, but Spence hung on to the ball and fired City low and hard into the lead.
The Blues held on to their advantage with Burnham’s attack generally well held by a defence that was alternately cajoled and cursed into keeping its shape by Lewis Craker.
With a minute to go to the whistle Danny Keen took the ball into the corner and, with two defenders in close proximity, looked to be going nowhere until a great bit of footwork took him clear and along the goal-line to provide Greg Williams with a chance that he gleefully accepted from short-range.
FULL-TIME: Oxford City 3-1 Burnham
City: Wilkins, Lane, Williams G., Avery, Craker, Takriti, Durrant, Merritt (Williams R. 89), Alleyne (Keen 83), Spence, Jones (Burnley 86)
Reporter: Chris Byrne
posted by Julian at Thursday, October 05, 2006
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