OWFC (1s) 4-1 Old Etonians
Whitton, dulce Whitton!
Dulce Whitton!
Dulce Whitton resonemus.
- Winchester College Song
After winning 2-1 on the Eton playing fields back in October, OWFC beat the Etonians 4-1 at Whitton on Saturday to establish a three-point gap in 3rd in the table, and an encouraging 9 points off the drop with 5 games to go.
OWFC took even ourselves by surprise with the way we started the game, with our first attack slicing through the OEs with suspicious precision, a Mikey Hodnett cross turned in by an own goal with barely 60 seconds on the clock. The O-Dubs then decided to not get out of our own half for the next half hour, conceding a soft equaliser and going in 1-1 in a fiercely competitive game with few first half chances.
The 3-5-2 started to work better in the 2nd half, with Antoine Kerck dynamic at right-wing back and a bronzed Pete Fuller back in the fold after his own holiday version of ‘The Trip’ along with Hugh Wylie down under. Mike Hodnett, regally floating in secret alleyways between opponents, fizzed an indefensible free-kick from way out that smashed the post, the rebound turned in by Donald’s thigh for a 2-1 lead.
As the biting wind and abrasive rain hailed down, tackles were fierce and bodies upended frequently. Goulding was thrown to the ground by the captain in an off-the-ball incident which only earned their captain a yellow card, despite Essex, who again gave their centre-back a 90-minute shellacking, reminding the ref that such “aggravated assault” could result in “a prison sentence” if done off the pitch.
OWFC defending deep, determined not to let the lead slip this time, Eton enjoyed possession but few chances. Bouch, Tiplady and Mercer swept up the long balls pinged into Wykehamist territory. Hugo Sever in front of them N’Golo Kante’d the midfield battle, letting little through. What sights of goal Eton did have, Al Wheal was equal to in net, with one outstanding outstretched foot save. With the clock ticking, a counter-attack saw Hodnett break through out wide, and a delightful chipped cross to the back post met by a diving Donald header, for 3-1 and euphoric scenes of celebration.
There was still time for Essex to paste a shot from a frankly indecent distance of 40 yards or so, that caught the keeper off his line and sailed over him for a 4-1 lead. The shirt stayed on in celebration, with the muted reaction from his teammates only emblematic of both the tired relief of securing victory, and the welcome regularity with which Essex hits such golazos.
Another great victory, with the Dubs looking ahead of them in the table rather than over our shoulders with five games to go.
Team: Wheal, Fuller, Mercer, Bouch, Tiplady, Kerck, Court, Goulding, Hugo Sever, Hodnett, Donald, Essex
Goals: (OG), Donald (2), Essex
MoM: Hodnett
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Old King’s Scholars 5-1 OWFC (2s)
A disappointing cup exit for the 2s, but great contribution from Kaz Fushimi who got the assist for Sam Cheetham’s goal.
Team: Quinnault, Charlie Morgan, Sam Cheetham, Alex Dawkins, Thurston, Theo McWhirter, Guy Mercer, Jai Vekeria, Kaz Fushimi, Will Rowley, Taro Kiley
Goal: Cheetham
MoM: Dawkins