Uxbridge

Posted by ChrisB on March 24, 2008, 10:03 pm

An unseasonable Bank Holiday Monday brought Uxbridge to Court Place Farm for a clash between two sides both in play-off places and looking to consolidate their positions. Uxbridge arrived on the back of a 2-2 draw with league leaders Farnborough; whilst City’s 5-1 win on Saturday would have given them a lift.


Nicholls won the first corner of the game on six minutes and Kevin Warner’s kick caused a few moments of concern before a long clearance picked out Mark Bell on the right and his direct running and pass gave Michael Lyon a chance but his shot was wide of the mark. James Saulsbury cut short a promising run by Warner before moving upfield and delivering a swirling cross that Lyon headed not far beyond the far post.

The newly-signed Louis Wells in the visitors’ goal, whose lengthy kicks are clearly a useful addition to the Uxbridge armoury, had to be quickly out of his area to head clear from George Redknap as he chased a lofted pass; and as Bell turned his marker and raced along the goal-line to hit the ball firmly into the danger area Wells did well to collect the ball at the second attempt.

Around the end of the first quarter City were having the better of the exchanges and carved out two or three excellent chances.

Bell set up Lyon for a run on goal and a shot that was put behind for a corner, from which Andy Gunn produced a goalbound shot that the lunging form of Dave Thomas deflected wide. Gunn had an even clearer chance two minutes later as a free-kick from Saulsbury found him relatively unmarked and close to goal, but there was no time to control the ball and his effort was high. Perhaps the best of the trio of chances fell to Lyon on the half-hour as his pace took him through on goal but a momentary hesitation gave Dave Thomas just enough time to get in a second vital block in the space of five minutes. The resulting corner saw Weedon’s comradely slap on the back propel Gunn into the post; and two other corners in rapid succession gave City the opportunity to maintain pressure and Uxbridge’s captain, Mark Nicholls, more chance to discuss the theoretical basis for those decisions with referee Mr Perry.

The visitors bounced back and won two corners of their own which Nicholls delivered well into the danger area, before a long-ball forward produced an underpowered nod back to his keeper by Ian Dickens which George Redknap intercepted but couldn’t quite capitalise upon.
The half ended with Uxbridge’s Neville Roach drawing an important tackle from Mark Avery, and Steve Smith, under pressure from James Mann, still getting good distance with his punched clearance from Nicholls’ corner.

Half-Time: City 0-0 Uxbridge

Within the opening ten minutes of the second half City had produced another three respectable chances. Bell, Lyon and Redknap all found themselves with room, and the ball, inside the Uxbridge area and all three saw their shots pass identically just past Wells’ right-hand post.

Steve Davis recovered well at the back to clear from Roach as Uxbridge fought back; and a perceptive cross-field pass from Dickens gave Mark Boyce plenty of time to compose himself but his cross was overhit. Boyce’s next venture forward was more productive as Avery put the ball behind, and Warner’s well-struck corner to the far post was met by the unmarked Weedon who, to the great relief of the home side, put his header well-wide of the target.

Just on the hour City went ahead. A good change of point of attack saw the ball switched to the left where Liam Malone, possibly looking for a shot, heeded Darren Pond’s call for the ball, and Pond’s shot, with the outside of his right foot, curled away from Wells, stationary on his line, and into the goal off the upright.

Mark Bell had another chance as he cut in from the left, but a defender’s boot took some pace off his shot and Wells gathered comfortably.

Uxbridge were gradually increasing the pressure. Boyce raced onto another of Wells’ howitzer-like clearances and Gunn did well to head clear; and then a cross from Thomas found Roach near the penalty-spot rising above the defence to power in a great header that looked certain to be the equaliser until Smith leapt high to his right to push the ball behind: surely a leading contender for save-of-the-season. The reprieve was, however, short-lived as Mann headed the resulting corner across Smith and into the far corner to restore equality on 71 minutes.

Almost immediately Uxbridge substitute Drake lined up his shot as he was faced with a retreating defence, but sliced his shot well wide of the target.

With 15 minutes left Wells chose to leave his area and follow a ball out to his right-hand touchline but his attempted clearance was charged down by the airborne Leon Woodruffe and the ball fell to Lyon who turned and, from well outside the penalty box, promptly curled the ball into the net with Wells a long way short of regaining his ground.

The Reds threw men forward to try and snatch a point and Thomas had a rising shot just clear Smith’s bar after a clearing header fell at his feet.

Woodruffe and Redknap did well to hold the ball up for a few precious minutes near the corner flag as time ran down; while Josias Carbon’s strong run through the centre almost took him clear as the end approached.

Finally an edgy game reached an edgy conclusion after two extra minutes with Woodruffe and Drake not quite seeing eye-to-eye after the whistle, and Nicholls rushing from the field to amuse supporters and committee members alike with his witty and insightful comments.

Full-Time: Oxford City 2-1 Uxbridge

City: Smith, Saulsbury, Davis, Gunn, Pond, Avery, Gardner (Woodruffe 66), Malone, Redknap, Lyon (Romeo 78), Bell (Carbon 81).