OCFC 0 - Andover 4

Andover have flirted with the Southern League in the past: twenty seasons through the 70s and into the 90s, and then a single unsatisfactory season in 98-9, but, as with City, they gained promotion at the end of last season as part of the latest round of reorganisation. Though not that far apart geographically the two teams had not met competitively until this season so it was their first visit to Court Place Farm. On the back of a good result last Saturday City would be looking to do the double over the Hampshire club, having won 3-1 at The Portway Stadium in September.
City certainly started in lively fashion and recent signing Gary Wickens was presented with a good chance as early as the second minute but Simon Arthur was quick off his line to deny the City man a clean shot. Harry Burnley was getting up and down the right-hand flank well, and the other City player making his home debut, Ryo Matsunaga was working hard on the other side. The Hampshire visitors were uncompromising in defence but, even so, City were beginning to produce some goalworthy moves. On fifteen minutes Matsunaga found Burnley with a well-hit pass and his low cross just eluded Anthony Alleyne on the edge of the six-yard box. Three minutes later another Burnley cross was headed powerfully, but just over the bar, by Alleyne who was having a good game both in the air and on the ground. Wickens and Burnley both fought for a loose ball in the area but to no avail, and then Mark Avery had a great chance with a header at the far post but saw his goal-bound effort saved low down by Arthur.
Two visiting defenders’ names had already been noted by the referee and on 28 minutes Andover’s captain, Matt Davis, received a second yellow after Mr Scott had discussed a tackle on Alleyne with his Assistant.
Lewis Craker nearly toe-poked home a close-range effort, and Wickens headed a fine cross from Durrant straight at Arthur, but, for the final 15 minutes of the half, Andover came more and more into the game. Wright had a strong shot tipped over by Kieron Drake and then flicked home, possibly with the aid of a deflection, Andover’s opener after 37 minutes. Jack Smith came close to adding another in the closing moments of the half but shot over.

HALF-TIME: City 0-1 Andover

The ten-men visitors defended strongly and in numbers after the interval and looked to hit City on the break. Matsunaga cut in and shot after a good run, but the shot lacked power; a Burnley cross skidded off Wickens' head and flew wide, but the closest the home side came in the opening fifteen minutes of the half to equalising was when Gary Middleton deflected a shot past his own keeper and only just past the outside of the post.
Andover, though a man down, seemed to be gaining in strength and came close to scoring when they had a string of four corners in rapid succession, but the ball was eventually scrambled clear. The writing was on the wall, though, and after 72 minutes Adam Heath cut in from the City right and drove a fine shot across Drake and high into the net. Lee Rendell was promptly brought on for Ryo Matsunaga and produced more penetration on the City left side; and, soon after, John Mitchell made a welcome return to City colours in place of Wickens. Despite committing more men to attack, however, the home side looked unlikely to reduce the arrears and Andover stretched their lead on 80 minutes when Heath ran strongly at a retreating defence and fired low into the corner. The visitors were growing in confidence, and, within a minute, a deep cross from the City left saw an unmarked Ben Wright climb to head the fourth goal past Drake.
Mark Jones, returning from injury, came on in place of Justin Merritt for the final six minutes of the match, and was promptly in the thick of things, but it was too late to have any serious chance of affecting the outcome of the match. Lewis Craker saw his header nodded out from under the bar by ex-Wallingford man Lee Chudy, but Andover held on to their clean sheet through a minimal amount of injury time.

FULL TIME: Oxford City 0-4 Andover

City: Drake, Durrant, Ford, Avery, Craker, Merritt (Jones 84), Burnley, Malone, Alleyne, Wickens (Mitchell 77), Matsunaga (Rendell 73).

Andover: Arthur, Smith (Martin 87), Puckett, Smart, Middleton, Davis, Chudy, Stowe, Wright, Heath, Asker (Swayne 62).

Reporter: ChrisB

City 0-3 Supermarine

City resumed acquaintances with their close neighbours from Swindon after an enforced break of a season on a windswept afternoon, but with the pitch looking in good condition given the recent deluges.
City had the better of the early exchanges. Anthony Alleyne broke through onto a good pass from Malone, but had to stretch too far to shoot with any power, and then a strong Ray Spence run allowed him to get in a good cross that just eluded the head of Alex Stewart. At the other end Luke Gillick got his head on a curling cross but saw the ball flash just past the far post. On 32 minutes the referee spotted a push by a defender as Kieron Drake was back-peddling to catch a ball just under the bar, and the second penalty in as many home games was given against the Blues. Danny Allen dispatched the kick firmly to Drake’s left to give Swindon the lead.
The visitors territorially had the better of the last quarter of an hour of the half without particularly testing the keeper, though, for City, Anthony Alleyne saw his good cross just cut out after a good run had taken him clear; and Alex Stewart couldn’t get sufficient power on a header to trouble King when in a good position late in the half.

HALF-TIME: City 0-1 Supermarine

Good prompting from Mike Ford, who had replaced Alleyne, saw City have some early opportunities after the break. On 51 minutes Ray Spence beat the offside trap and was in on goal for his best chance of the game, but King saved well with his feet and, almost immediately, a deft touch by Rendell gave the hard-working Malone time and space for a run and cross but a packed defence cleared the danger. For Supermarine Pratt had an incisive run into the box but pulled his shot across the goal, and then Griffin, who had drifted in behind the defence, shot softly at Drake when he might have taken the ball on further. The Blues were still looking for the equaliser, but getting few chances from a side that closed players down quickly and efficiently. Alex Stewart hit a half-chance into the side-netting from a tricky angle and two minutes later King spilled a shot from Spence but recovered the ball just as Stewart’s boot was about to apply the finishing touch.
On 66 minutes the visitors doubled their score when some excellent footwork from Kyle Lapham provided a little space and he hit a tremendous dipping shot over Drake. Heads dropped at this point and two minutes later Josh Jeffries’ head was the first to a high ball in the City box and the ball was across him and into the far corner before Kieron Drake could react.
It looked as if, with their tails up, Supermarine might press on and score more, but the City defence prevented any more damage, though there didn’t seem much likelihood of the gap being narrowed as the Supermarine defence were more than equal to their task.

FULL-TIME: Oxford City 0-3 Swindon Supermarine

City: Drake, Lane (Burley 72), Rendell, Avery, Craker, Merritt, Alleyne (Ford 45), Malone, Stewart, Spence, Durrant.
Supermarine: King, Lapham, Allen, Edwards, Davies, Bennett, Pratt (Draycott 73), Griffin, Belcher, Gillick (Emms 83), Jeffries (Taylor 75).

Hillingdon Borough 2-5 Oxford City

Gary Wickens first half hat trick, and own goal and Ray Spence.

Terrific performance, wind played a big part, 3 goals in 25 minutes for Gaz on his debut, one from the spot and one directly from a free kick

Drake,Durrant,Craker,Avery,Ford,Rendell,Malone,Merrit,Burnley,Alleyne(Matsunaga),Wickens(Spence)

Reporter: Padz

OCFC 1 - Marlow 0

The first day of the New Year saw Court Place Farm passed fit after the recent monsoons for the visit of Marlow who included two ex-City favourites in their squad: Jack Smillie and Colin Simpson.
The first half was really a rather unremarkable affair. Marlow started brightly with Simpson’s flicks-on finding players in space, and top-scorer Jermaine Roche looking lively, but the game soon seemed to become somewhat shapeless and lacking in excitement for the reasonably-sized holiday crowd.
After 28 minutes a challenge by Lewis Craker on Roche had the referee pointing to the spot and, after the now seemingly obligatory protestations had been waved aside, Colin Simpson stepped up to the mark and rather softly struck the ball fairly centrally giving Kieron Drake no problem in making a comfortable save.
Jeff Lamb pulled up with an injury for the visitors and was replaced by Johnny Gray, and almost immediately City’s best chance of the half came when Marlow’s keeper Michael Watkins and a defender missed clearing the slippery ball from a corner but no one in Blue could quite provide the finishing touch.
City lost the influential Mark Jones with ten minutes of the half remaining when he mis-hit a shot on the edge of the area and immediately went to ground with what looked like a hamstring injury: Alex Stewart replaced him. Lee Rendell looked to have picked up a worrying knock a few minutes later and was off the pitch for treatment for a few minutes, but was able to run off the injury.
Marlow’s Jack Jeffries found himself in space just on the break but his hurried shot didn’t trouble Drake who was having a very sound game in the City goal.

HALF-TIME: City 0-0 Marlow

The second half was an altogether more lively affair with City producing several goal-worthy chances and Marlow looking capable of snatching a goal on the break.
Anthony Alleyne set the tone for the half early on when his pace took him clear of his marker but the ball got a little ahead of him and Watkins, who was quick around the area all afternoon, managed to claim the ball. Stewart shot just high, and a stinging shot from Billy Beechers brought a good parry from Watkins. In between these chances Colin Simpson put in a lob from distance that landed on the top of the net and Roche, left all alone in the penalty area, had Marlow’s best chance of the half but was denied by a timely last-ditch block by Gavin Lane. At the start of the last quarter City had four chances to edge ahead, but without success: firstly a Stewart flick from a corner saw Billy Beechers crash a shot off the underside of the bar; then Beechers was put through on goal but Watkins smothered his shot; Stewart prodded the ball just wide after an incisive run into the box by Rendell; and Alex Stewart again fired just high after Adam Durrant had fought his way to the goal-line and pulled the ball back to around the penalty spot. Then, with three minutes left of normal time and it looking as though stalemate would be the final outcome, the ball was cleared from the Marlow area to Adam Durrant and his long-range left-footed shot curled over Watkins and just inside the angle of bar and post. Two minutes into injury time City could have stretched their lead when Billy Beechers was again released, but Watkins was quick off his line to make a sharp save.

So, on the second-half display, a deserved three points to take the Blues to within three points of the play-off places. Good solid performances in most positions today, but let’s hope Mark Jones’ injury is not a long-term problem, and that Ray Spence will be at his goal-hungry best when Beechers’ loan period finishes.

FULL-TIME: Oxford City 1-0 Marlow

City: Drake, Lane, Rendell, Avery, Craker, Malone, Jones (Stewart 37), Merritt, Alleyne (Keen 70), Beechers, Durrant.
Marlow: Watkins, Webb, Neptune (Smillie 77), Herbert, Beale, Floyd, Lamb (Gray 31), Jeffries, Simpson (Harman 63), Roche, Flint.

Attendance: 163
Reporter: ChrisB

Chesham 3-0 OCFC (aband)

Chesham 3-0 City

Abandoned at half time due to torrential storm and standing water, ref brought the players back out but the ball wouldn't travel.

Drake, Lane, Craker(c), Avery, Rendell, Malone, Merritt, Jones, Burnley, Alleyne, Beechers

Spence,Stewart,Steedman,Keen

Lovely weather for luck!

Reporter: Padz

Didcot 0 - OCFC 0

FOOTBALL: Derby clash ends in stalemate
By Nick Farrant

OXFORD City's Justin Merritt was the happier of the two managers as his side stretched their unbeaten run to three games at Didcot Town's npower Loop Meadow Stadium yesterday.

o The goalless encounter, Didcot's third draw in four games, was a blow to their British Gas Southern League Division 1 South & West play-off hopes.

But it could have so much worse had Alex Deadman, who was outstanding in the home goal, not made a super stop from the impressive Billy Beechers in the final minutes.

But defeat would have been unfair on Didcot after a much-improved second-half display.

City started well, with a Beechers effort deflected over the bar, before they suffered a blow on 11 minutes when defender Omar Takriti broke an arm.

Didcot's Andy Parrott headed straight at Keiron Drake, before Stuart Beavon, who was a danger throughout, went close.

Beechers fired horribly wide for the visitors, before Didcot's Paul Powell's control let him down after Beavon put him through.

Late in the first half, Deadman twice denied Beechers, blocking his first effort, before tipping away a fizzing 25-yard drive.

After the break, Anthony Alleyne, who worked well with Beechers, went close for City.

Deadman pushed Lee Rendell's free-kick over the bar, while Drake kept out a shot from Beavon and minutes later, blocked a goalbound Jamie Brooks shot with his legs.

On 71 minutes, Didcot's Matty Jack went down in the area after a challenge by Lewis Craker, but the referee waved away their penalty appeal.

Beavon went close with a brilliant 25-yard free-kick, before Jack King's pile-driver came back off the bar.

Parrott twice fired over from close range as Didcot pressed for a winner, before it was left to Deadman to ensure Beechers did not have the last word.

OCFC 2 - Winchester 0

The fog and frost that had led to the postponement of mid-week matches lifted in time for City to welcome the other City club to a cold and damp Court Place Farm for the first time.
We welcomed back Kieron Drake, who had played for City at the end of the 90s, in goal in place of Lee Farrow, and held a minute’s silence to say farewell to Brian ‘Dixie’ Dean, who had scored on his debut for City as a seventeen year old back in 1952.
City started well with some incisive running on the right and left flanks leading to a couple of early corners, and it was from another corner in the 11th minute that an accurate Mark Jones delivery was neatly flicked on from the near post to an unmarked Mark Avery who had time to pick his spot by the far post: a well-worked goal. Jamie Musselwhite had a good chance to level things almost immediately but fired over from just inside the area.
Harry Burnley and Mark Jones were combining well on the City right and making well-judged crosses and Billy Beechers was picked out with one of these, but his shot clipped the heels of Anthony Alleyne and went just wide.
James Davis picked up a nasty knock to the eye and was off the pitch for four or five minutes before it was decided that he needed to be substituted, during this time Ben Wright was forced wide by Gavin Lane when free in the box and pulled his shot wide.
City almost doubled their lead after 25 minutes when neat footwork from Harry Burnley on the edge of the area saw him turn and lob the ball against the angle of post and bar with Hook a spectator in the centre of his goal.
The game became rather disjointed for the last fifteen minutes of the half but Beechers was pulled up belatedly for offside as he latched on to a good through pass, and Rendell took a smart return pass to make a dangerous run into the area but took the wrong option for his final ball. At the other end Vavrecka hit a good shot just past Drake’s right-hand post on the stroke of half-time.

HALF-TIME: City 1-0 Winchester

The Blues applied plenty of pressure in the early part of the second half: a cross from Rendell clipped the bar; a run and cross from Burnley just failed to reach Beechers, and a Mark Jones’ free kick from the edge of the box just cleared the bar. The visitors were still getting forward and, though attacks were generally dealt with tidily by the well-marshalled back line, Musselwhite and Flood both missed the target when well placed.
City’s second goal arrived on 73 minutes when Beechers avoided the offside trap and ran on to a well-timed pass to fire accurately across Hook and just inside his far post.
The visitors pushed on in the last ten minutes to see if they could salvage a point, but the defence held firm and, although Flood did strike the bottom of a post near the end, the lead was maintained without too many alarms.

FULL-TIME: Oxford City 2-0 Winchester City

Oxford City: Drake, Lane, Rendell, Avery, Craker, Merritt, Jones (Durrant 75), Malone, Alleyne (Keen 78), Beechers, Burnley.

Winchester City: Hook, Aimable, Davis (Flood 20), Vavrecka, Thurgood, Diaper (Lang 71), Webber, Wakefield (Nancy 71), Wright, Musselwhite, Smith.

Bracknell 1 - OCFC 2

Yes...as the Radio Oxford reporter said, it was a Christmas cracker for City today--given the very heavy pitch which made it difficult to play with any fluency, it must count as one of our best performances of the season so far. It was an entertaining with chances enough at both ends to finish 5-5, but City probably deserved to win as they created the better openings and finished the stronger.

I can't emulate Chris B's excellent 'View from the terraces' but as he was at the Nomads match I'll give a brief summary of this one. City started brightly and Adam Durrant's fine through ball gave Ray Spence a chance in the second minute, but he didn't get quite enough on it and the keeper made a good diving save. At the other end a Bracknell striker beat the offside and placed the ball wide of Lee Farrow and the far post, before they hit the other post with a free kick. City came under some pressure, weathered it, and seemed about to replace Lee Rendell (cut head) with Harry Burnley when they took off Adam Durrant instead. Adam had been playing well so I suppose he'd injured himself somehow. But within a short time of Harry coming on, we won a corner and LEWIS CRAKER powered home a header into the bottom corner. Billy Beechers might have extended our lead after a fine run and shot from a narrow angle, and we had a big shout for a penalty (handball) turned down, but we lived a little dangerously at the other end at times and were quite pleased to be still in front at half time.

Half time: BRACKNELL TOWN 0, OXFORD CITY 1

Within a minute of the restart the City lead was doubled when BILLY BEECHERS met a loose ball just outside the area and crashed home a superb shot to the bottom right corner. But two minutes later some slightly sloppy play on the City right resulted in a cross into the box which MARK ANDERSON was able to slot home.

For a while it looked as if Bracknell would come back from 0-2 down for the second week running to get a draw and preserve their unbeaten home record, especially when they got the ball in the back of the City net. But the ref (a Miss Chapman who I thought did a good job overall--she certainly cleaned up the language on the pitch!) had already blown for a foul on Lee Farrow, who soon afterwards was in action again saving at his near post.

As the game wore on Bracknell threatened less and City created several good chances on the break, from one of which it looked as Liam Malone, on for Anthony Alleyne who had run himself into the ground all afternoon, put the ball just wide. Their keeper made two good saves from Beechers, who seemed to be getting stronger by the minute. In the end he was on his own up front, as Ray Spence was replaced by Gavin Lane, to secure the points. For me, Ray was a bit disappointing today. The pitch would not have suited him but he seemed to give up a little too easily at times.

The rest of the team, though, gave 100%. Jonah was tireless, Justin, Crakes and Mark Avery very solid, and Omar just gets better each month--he never panics. But if two stood out today they were Lee Rendell and Billy Beechers. Let's hope he doesn't have to go back to United for a while yet.

Reporter: RIJS