Penalty shootout victory for Town

Following on from the cup success the Kestrels enjoyed last weekend, it was the turn of the Men’s First team as they travelled to Witney United who were sitting fifth in the Hellenic Premier Division.

In a match littered with yellow cards, Town came from a goal behind, survived playing with ten men for over an hour and saw Witney Utd miss a last minute penalty before emerging victorious on penalty kicks.

Town started the stronger with man of the match Luke Williams causing the Witney defence problems all evening. As early as the third minute his pass found Jamie Fairchild who was adjudged to be off side. A fifth minute injury to Tom Williams saw Eden Peters introduced as Town continued to enjoy the better of the opening period.

Witney’s first attack came on fourteen minutes that resulted in a corner kick that saw the dangerous John McMahon was allowed head over the cross bar unchallenged.

The match was being played at a fast pass with heavy tackles that brought about a string of cautions and free kicks. One of these was for Dan Jewell who adjudged to have fouled the full back he had beaten to the goal line.

McMahon again came closest for Witney when he was allowed to run from midfield and shoot over the cross bar on twenty eight minutes.

Carl Davies thought he had opened the scoring on thirty one minutes when he beat the back four to be one on one with Witney keeper Steve Hale. Davies rounded the keeper only to see his goal bound strike clear of the line onto the upright and back into play by a retreating defender.

This represented the start of sustained pressure by Town with a series of corners and free kicks but the break through could not be made before the break.

The second half started as the first ended with Town forcing the play. Hale cleared poorly to Fairchild who saw his long range effort go wide. Williams and Jewell were causing problems on the flanks until Jewell was adjudged to have fouled an opponent while trying to win the ball while lying on the ground. This brought a second caution and Town were reduced to ten men on fifty five minutes.

Buoyed by this Witney started to exert pressure but a disallowed goal for off side by Peters scored to remind Witney that Town were still dangerous on the break and as a result Witney kept a back four that negated their extra man advantage.

Jim Nightingale survived an appeal for handball against him before Witney’s pressure told on the seventy minutes when Anni Odihambo was allowed to turn unmarked in the penalty area pass Oneal Garnets.

Town responded strongly with intelligent running that continued to cause the Witney defence problems and they were rewarded on eighty six minutes. Good play by defenders Andrew Nunn and Warren Baxter saw Davies receive the ball and pass to Fairchild who in turn set Peters free to fire pass Hale in a one on one situation.

There was still excitement in the match as Garnes had to dive full length to push Ricky Bridges’ shot out for a corner before Nightingale was penalised in the penalty area on ninety six minutes. However, Odihambo put his kick low and wide of Garnes right post.

The first period of extra time was Town’s with Davies looking dangerous but again Garnes was needed to save at full length to keep the score level. The second period deteriorated with both teams looking for the long ball to catch the opposition on the break, before the game finished all square.

Witney won the toss and Odihambo made amends for his earlier miss by converting his kick. This was to prove one of only two successful penalties due to two superb Garnes saves. Davies, Nightingale, Craig Hiscock and Fairchild scored their kicks to give Town a deserved victory and a quarter final tie away at Slimbridge.

Garnes, Baxter, Thomas (Nunn), Hiscock, Nightingale, Hatton, Jewell, T Williams (Peters) (Varndell), Fairchild, Davies, L Williams