OCFC 3 - 2 Newport IOW

The twice-postponed visit from the Islanders finally took place on what turned out to be a rather damp evening at CPF last night with the visitors looking to end a long winless run that had taken them close to relegation danger for a while.
The pitch was showing a few bare patches but was generally in good condition for this late in the season and played better than for some games recently thanks to a good watering.
City were first into their stride and won two early corners but without producing anything clear-cut. Although the home side were looking the neater, the visitors were clearly going to rely on quick breaks from defence and seemed to have enough pace to produce problems. Sam Hart fired over early on and then Mark McEnnery’s run was stopped by a timely tackle from Mark Avery. Even so it must have surprised City when Mark Watson stole in at the far post after nine minutes to shoot under Carl Wilkins and score only their third goal in eight matches.
City almost equalised immediately when Anthony Alleyne was put in by Kieran Lewis, but saw his shot pushed just round the post by Jamie Bray, and from the resultant corner Gavin Lane had his header cleared by a defender on the line. A minute later and the luckless Alleyne had another on-target shot just pushed to safety by Bray.
It looked as though a City goal would not be long in arriving but, all the while, Newport were creating chances. McEnnery had another strong run, but shot wide, and then Watson set up Ashley Wright but he shot over when it looked easier to score.
Play switched to the other end and a fine threaded pass from Mark Janes saw Chris Harper produce a shot that was saved by the post by Bray; and then Harper headed narrowly over from a good centre by Mark Bell. Finally, on 20 minutes, the equaliser arrived. Mark Janes picked up the ball in midfield and, shrugging off some hefty tackles, fired in a shot from the edge of the area that hit the back of the net before Bray could react: a contender for most supporters’ goal-of-the-season!
Mark Jones produced a good cross, but Bell’s header was comfortably held and then Jones himself fired in a low shot when set up by Merritt that the keeper did well to parry.
For the visitors Watson just beat Wilkins to a high ball but was penalised for raising his foot too high and then Adam Shepherd had a good shot just wide from a difficult angle.
On 39 minutes City took a deserved lead. Anthony Alleyne’s pace had again given him room in the box and his shot produced a reflex save from Bray at the expense of a corner from which Mark Jones’ precise delivery saw Gavin Lane rise more or less unchallenged to head home.
Forays forward by Hart and Watson produced corners for the visitors, but no more goals.

HALF-TIME: CITY 2-1 NEWPORT IOW

The Islanders put on two substitutes at half-time and one of these, Shane Jones, brought a well-judged block from Gavin Lane as he set up a shot. McEnnery shot across the face of goal and, almost immediately, Darren Powell cleared the stand with a hasty shot.
For City Anthony Alleyne couldn’t quite control a bouncing ball and skimmed the bar with his shot, and then Mark Jones delivered a teasing free-kick into the area that neither Merritt nor Janes could quite capitalise on.
The start of the final quarter saw increasing City pressure. Firstly a Mark Jones corner caused problems, but the ball was eventually hacked clear; Chris Harper put in a fine run and Alleyne sliding in met the cross but saw the ball beat keeper and defenders to pass just the wrong side of the far post; and then another Alleyne run saw him hauled down in the box to produce an undisputed (unusual these days!) penalty. Chris Harper was entrusted with the spot-kick but his shot to the keeper’s right was pushed behind for a corner. The corner kick, not for the first time, caused problems for the defenders, and Harper made amends for the penalty miss when he turned well in a crowd of players to shoot strongly past Bray after 72 minutes.
A run and cross by Mark Janes eluded fellow attackers, and another hard-hit shot from Janes got the slightest of deflections to take it just past the post.
Just as it looked as though the hosts were heading for a comfortable victory the ball broke to Newport’s Shane Jones in the box and he shot home with four minutes left to give City a slightly nervous time before the final whistle.

FULL-TIME: OXFORD CITY 3-2 NEWPORT IOW

City: Wilkins, Durrant(Capt.), Lewis, Lane, Avery, Merritt, Janes, Jones (Griffin 73), Alleyne, Harper, Bell (Chakaodza 81).
Newport: Bray, Dyer, Shepherd (Odering 65), Buckman, Powell, Watson, Cole (Sainsbury 45), White (Wright 45), McEnnery, Wright, Hart.

OCFC 1-3 Bashley

A warm afternoon perhaps better suited to the cricket in The Parks than football saw already-crowned champions Bashley make a second visit of the season to CPF, and they were applauded onto the field through a tunnel of City players.
The early exchanges suggested that, whilst they would still be a tough nut to crack, the visitors, with all the hard work of the season now behind them, might not be going all out for the victory and it was the City who fashioned out the better chances, and Stacey Harper was the busier keeper in the first half.
Early on an Alex Stewart cross was nodded just wide by Mark Janes and then Liam Malone, who had a very busy game, shot just wide. City were unlucky not to take the lead after 13 minutes when, given some space, Stewart hit a fine shot only to see it cannon off Harper’s right-hand post; and Jim Griffin went close to the same post five minutes later.
Gavin Lane and Omar Takriti, who seem to have quickly struck up a sound understanding, were keeping the Bashley forwards under control and it wasn’t until the half-hour mark that high-scoring Richard Gillespie fired into the advertising boards with the defence standing off. Almost immediately the play moved to the other end and Lee Rendell put in Kevin Chakaodza who beat Harper but pushed his shot just beyond the far post. Five minutes later the same player was through onto an accurate pass from Malone but he hesitated and the chance evaporated.
With five minutes of the half remaining a teasing cross from Mark Janes, who has been making the transition from Youth team with some assurance, caused uncertainty in the Bashley defence and Josh Thomas headed against his own post.
As the clock ran down Bashley won their first corner of the game, which was punched clear by Wilkins, and then showed why they have been such a dangerous side this year as Castle and Davis combined swiftly to deliver a cross that Neil Morant headed just over.

HALF-TIME City 0-0 Bashley

City continued after the break very much in the same vein. Chakaodza shot just wide of the post after eight minutes of the half, and a minute later had a strong shot parried by Harper just out of the reach of the waiting City players. Alex Stewart then saw one of his trade-mark free-kicks flash past Stacey Harper but just wide of the upright.
From the goal kick a quick build-up and some neat passing put Shaun Hale away on the City right and his rising shot from just inside the area was in the net before Carl Wilkins had time to react, giving Bashley the lead on 57 minutes.
City looked to get back into the game and both Adam Durrant and Lee Rendell had shots that were only a little wide of the target.
Chris Harper came on for Mark Janes, but before he could have any influence on the game City had fallen further behind. A long ball forward bounced high towards the City area and Carl Wilkins was narrowly beaten to the ball by Gillespie who headed over the keeper and into the unguarded net after 79 minutes.
Though the Blues were still getting forward at every opportunity Bashley were testing the home defence more and Ryan Moss had a firm shot pushed behind. Then, with three minutes remaining, Moss got in a shot over Wilkins which hit the bar, Kieran Lewis headed the ball away from the goal-line but Gillespie reacted the quickest and headed the ball back into goal.
Chris Harper had a good run down the right and his cross was met from close in by Alex Stewart but his shot hit the underside of the bar and was cleared to safety, while at the Radcliffe End Hale lobbed Wilkins but saw the ball bounce just the wrong side of the post.
Finally, three minutes into injury time, a cross from the City right eluded attack and defence alike, but Lee Rendell returned the ball for Kevin Chakaodza to head home from close in for a goal that was no more than City deserved.

FULL-TIME Oxford City 1-3 Bashley

City: Wilkins, Durrant, Takriti, Lane (Lewis 84), Avery, Griffin (Ford 68), Janes (Harper 76), Malone, Stewart, Chakaodza, Rendell.
Bashley: Harper, Gazzard, Ferrett, Castle, Thomas, Riley, Hale (Burland 88), Davis, Moss, Gillespie, Morant (Blackwell 45).

City had the better of the first half and plenty of possession in the second, and can feel somewhat hard done by to be on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline. Though seemingly content for much of the match to play within themselves, Bashley showed with their precise finishing why they have done so well this season.
City’s young bloods continue to look promising, and it is to be hoped that Lewis, Janes, Davis, Rendell et al. will continue to be brought on steadily as, handled properly, they will surely be part of a successful City side in seasons to come.

Chesham-Home

A dry, sandy pitch made the ball tricky to control at times this afternoon on a warm Easter Saturday as Chesham came to Court Place Farm for the first time for a few years.
Matt Skinner put in Enoch Boateng early on for the visitors but he shot wide and almost immediately Mark Jones delivered an excellent cross from the City right that was scrambled clear. Wilkins had to be quick off his line to deny James Gray, and Skinner had a headed chance at the far post for Chesham before City had the best chance of the early exchanges. A swinging free-kick from Steve Davis was met by the head of Mark Avery and his firm goalbound header was just parried by Matt Niedzwiecki, but neither Chakaodza nor Stewart could get near enough to capitalise on the chance. Five minutes later a fine ball from Mark Jones between two defenders found Stewart in space in the angle of the penalty area and his rising shot was tipped just over by Niedzwiecki at full stretch. From the resulting corner the ball was lofted back in from the left by Jim Griffin and the Chesham keeper again had to alert to push the ball out from under the bar.
Half way through the period Steve Davis was stretchered off with a bad leg injury and Takriti replaced him and this seemed to cause City to lose a bit of rhythm and allow the visitors more of the game. Giambrone put Gray clear but his shot lacked power and Rice put in a good cross that Avery did well to head behind for a corner. Boateng put in a heavy challenge on Jones and from the free-kick Chakaodza put in a good shot on the turn but it was cleanly held by the keeper.
Chesham had a clear-cut chance right at the end of the half when Marcus Gross found space in the area but his shot was deflected just wide by a last-ditch block from a City defender.

HALF-TIME City 0-0 Chesham

Mark Bell replaced the injured Mark Jones at half-time and Lee Rendell produced a good shot early on that went just beyond the far post, but Chesham steadily came back into the game and looked the more likely to score. The ball rattled the City bar after a Maynard corner was only partly cleared; Dan Burnell, through on goal, was denied by a timely tackle by Takriti and another good corner by Maynard was headed just over by Gross. Just as the Chesham pressure looked as though it might give them the lead, a soft foul on Chakaodza wide on the City right gave Lee Rendell a chance to deliver a measured free-kick into the box and Gavin Lane was on hand to head firmly past Niedzwiecki to give City the lead in the 74th minute.
Five minutes later Anthony Alleyne broke strongly into the penalty area but Mr Lymer, not for the first time, didn’t allow the advantage and awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area from which Rendell clipped the top of the bar.
Few chances came for either side after this although a rushed clearance by Niedzwiecki hit Alleyne and passed only just wide of the post with four minutes left on the clock.
With time running out Giambrone received a straight red-card for a very dangerous tackle on Gavin Lane and, while the City defender was receiving lengthy treatment, Chesham substitute Sam Byfield talked his way into a second yellow card and left the visitors to play out time with nine men.

FULL-TIME Oxford City 1-0 Chesham United.

City: Wilkins, Durrant(Capt.), Davis (Takriti 24), Lane, Avery, Griffin, Jones (Bell 45), Malone, Stewart (Alleyne 61), Chakaodza, Rendell.
Chesham: Niedzwiecki, Giambrone, Skinner (Hall 57), Abraham, Massey, Gross (Byfield 78), Maynard, Boateng (Chemlal 85), Burnell, Gray, Rice.

OCFC 2-0 Brook House

City gave new signing Stuart Cattell a debut in the starting line-up today in a back line that was missing both Avery and Craker who were serving suspensions. The captaincy passed to Adam Durrant, and Carl Wilkins returned in goal after a long absence with an ankle injury.
There were early chances at both ends. In the first minute a weak clearance fell to Ryan Kirkland and the striker shot into the side-netting via Carl Wilkins’ fingertips. The subsequent corner was quickly cleared to the other end where Anthony Alleyne broke clear but shot wide of ex-City keeper Joe Caulfield’s left hand post.
For the next ten minutes or so chances came and went at both ends. Brook House had three corners in quick succession; Carl Wilkins had to be quick across his area to a through ball and his kick hit Kirkland and fell near an unguarded goal-area, but fortunately Durrant was first to the ball; another punched clearance fell to Paul McGovern but his hasty shot cleared the bar. For City, Alleyne almost got onto the end of a good cross from Alex Stewart, and a Steve Davis free-kick from twenty yards was just too high.
The hosts were getting more of the play from around the twenty minute mark. A well directed free-kick from Mark Jones was headed just wide by Alex Stewart; and a minute later a shot from Jimmy Griffin was netted by Stewart but from a clearly offside position. Several more half-chances came City’s way before the opening goal on 36 minutes. Stewart worked himself well into space on the right before being unceremoniously upended by Chris Owens, earning the defender a yellow card from Mr Matthews. The swinging free kick from Mark Jones was met at the far post by Stuart Cattell whose downward header bounced in front of goal and up into the net just beneath the bar.
The next ten minutes were a little untidy and City would have been glad to take a one-goal advantage in at half-time.

HALF-TIME: City 1-0 Brook House

The visitors started the second period well and a driven free-kick from Greg Homer was hit on the turn by a Brook House player just inside the area but, luckily for City, straight at Carl Wilkins.
Chances then fell with some regularity to the Blues. Firstly a flicked header from Stewart put in Mark Jones on the City right but a defender pushed him wide and the shot passed along the goal-line and behind. On the hour an accurate cross from Jones was met by Liam Malone and Caulfield did very well indeed to push the goalbound header just round the post. Stewart hit a firm shot straight at Caulfield and then Jones netted but the goal was ruled out for a nudge on the last defender.
Wilkins then kept City’s lead intact twice in the space of five or so minutes. Firstly James Froud saw his shot palmed away, and then Wilkins did even better to reach and parry a free-kick from Homer.
Rendell and Davis combined well on the left with fifteen minutes left and Davis’ final cross was just beaten away, and then a fine run by Mark Bell on the same flank five minutes later produced a cross that was cleared well by Caulfield. Kevin Chakaodza, on for Alex Stewart, held the ball up well before putting in Mark Jones to deliver one of his trademark crosses onto the head of Alleyne, but again Caulfield just did enough to put off the City striker and, as the ball was moved quickly to the other end, Greg Homer’s cross flashed across a busy penalty area and behind.
With time rapidly running out good footwork from Chakoadza produced a shooting chance out of nothing, whilst Steve Davis did well to dispossess Jerome Pereira as he bore down on the City goal.
Then with time up (on my watch at least!) a cross from Mark Bell saw Chakaodza head the ball down to Mark Jones who went down as he turned away from his marker in the box. Mr Matthews initially ignored the challenge, but the Assitant instantly had his flag across his chest and the penalty was awarded. Cue mass protest from visiting players. A few minutes and three bookings later Joe Caulfield guessed right, made a good save and pushed Mark Jones’ spot-kick around the post. Mr Matthews’ whistle for encroachment again produces mass disagreement which is settled with another yellow card and the sending off of Dan White ... and Mark Jones keeps his nerve and places his second attempt firmly in the net.
Eight minutes added in total, but no more goalmouth action to speak of.

FULL-TIME: Oxford City 2-0 Brook House

City: Wilkins, Durrant, Davis, Lane, Cattell, Malone, Jones, Griffin, Stewart (Chakaodza 67), Alleyne, Rendell (Bell 76).
Brook House: Caulfield, Swift, White, Burgess (Mitchell 80), Fermie (Long 62), Owens, Pereira, Homer, Kirkland, Froud, McGovern.

Swindon Supermarine 2-1 OCFC

City travelled West today in the hope of revenging their home defeat by Supermarine in January, whilst the Wiltshire side would be looking to maintain their position in the play-off positions. Both sides had debutants in their squads. Supermarine had ex-Bath and Taunton defender Stuart Pearson on the bench; whilst City would give talented youth-team player Mark Janes a run-out.
Mark Draycott’s feat of scoring all six goals for Supermarine against Hanwell a fortnight ago was recognised with a presentation of the match ball from that game before kick-off on a bright but blustery afternoon, and that wind was to play a major part in the goal that gave the visitors an early lead on three minutes. Following a City corner the ball was cleared to the wing where Rendell was fouled. Mark Jones took the kick and, with the wind behind it, the ball evaded attackers and defenders alike to nestle in the back of the net.
City were using Davis and Rendell well on the left but good defending by the home side generally kept attacks at distance and Marine were proving sharp on the break. Danny Allen almost put David Pratt in with a quickly taken free-kick, and then Luke Gullick ran deep into the defence before being stopped by a timely challenge from Adam Durrant. The home side were pressing strongly now, and after a hectic passage of play around the top of the City box the ball broke to David Stroud who curled a well-directed shot past Kieron Drake’s left-hand and into the top corner of the net to restore parity after 25 minutes. Marine continued to press and a deep cross saw an unmarked Gullick almost slide the ball home at the far post. City were finding it difficult to relieve the pressure on their defence and after 31 minutes when another cross from the Marine left was headed away only as far as Luke Gullick the player took his time and carefully placed his shot into the far corner of the net.
Gullick and Stroud combined well again just after that but the last quarter of an hour produced little in either goalmouth until Lewis Craker went close with a header from a Jones corner with the last action of the half.

HALF-TIME Supermarine 2-1 City

City made a double substitution at the break, with Mark Janes and Anthony Alleyne coming on in place of Durrant and Jones.
Stroud almost increased the lead but was narrowly offside; and then a dangerous cross from Justin McKay was just cut out by Drake. Draycott shot over the bar when a free-kick from Bennett found him in space in the City box, whilst at the other end Tom King had to be quickly off his line to reach a through ball before Anthony Alleyne.
The visitors were coming more into the game and good crosses from Janes, Randell and Alleyne caused moments of worry in the Marine defence, and a hooked shot from Alex Stewart had power but was, unfortunately, straight at King.
Draycott worked a good position for himself but eventually ran out of space, and another McKay free-kick flew through a crowded area without any of several players being able to make contact.
On 80 minutes Chris Harper just couldn’t quite get enough on a fine cross from Alleyne, and a minute later Lewis Craker sliding in at the far post was a whisker (bootlace?) away from giving a great cross from Steve Davis the finish it deserved.
The last chances of the half fell to the home side. Mark Draycott’s well-struck shot drew a good parry from Drake, but Matty Horsell, on as substitute for less than a minute, fired the rebound over the bar; and Nathan Edwards when well placed fired straight at Drake.

FULL-TIME Swindon Supermarine 2-1 Oxford City.

Supermarine: King, Henry, Allen, Edwards, McKay, Bennett, Pratt (Pearson 73), Jeffries (Emms 81), Draycott, Gullick (Horsell 86), Stroud.
City: Drake, Durrant (Janes 45), Davis, Lane, Craker, Merritt, Jones (Alleyne 45), Griffin, Stewart (Harper 75), Malone, Rendell.