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.