Old Wykehamist Football Club

Taro Kiley reports.....

A decent pitch meant the boys in blue could do their best imitation of the slick passing seen regularly in certain parts of North London. OWFC started the game with a very good attitude and were clearly the better team; evidence that Little Tom's big mouth can help us through the trauma of our sorely missed captain. It took just a few minutes for the oppostion's defence to be unlocked, with great vision from Masefield putting in Jones whose well struck shot produced a great save from Repton's keeper. Luckily for OWFC, Vernon in true poacher form and sharper than their defence, leapt up above everyone and nodded past the keeper's flapping arms.

The next ten minutes continued in similar fashion with the OWs dominating possession thanks to a midfield bossed by the twin towers, Baker and Merriott. Several more chances were created from some good moves but the team sometimes lacked the finishing touch. Masefield had other ideas. After the ball had ricocheted around the box and fell luckily (as Gordon will testify) to him on the edge, he struck sweetly into the top corner, leaving the keeper little chance.

At two nil down, little more than a quarter of an hour into the game, Repton decided to step it up a gear and the OWs could perhaps be accused of losing a bit of concentration due to their lead. Some niggling and heckling ensued but Repton still were not able to create any chances. Ten minutes before the end of the half, some silky skills from Daddy Long Legs Marsh on the right wing and some neat passing from Merriott and Baker meant that OWFC began to regain control and went into half time on top.

Half-time saw Marshy and Baker off for Kiley and Redhead. The Yellows, aware that they needed to get back into the game threw more men forward and did well to break up the fluid passing which had been evident in the first half. Still, thanks to a well organised back line and some trade mark last ditch Toone and Wakiwaka tackles, Duncan ended up without much to do.

Class prevailed and a few more OW chances were created, notably from some impressive work up and down the left from a Walters desperate to seal his trip to Australia with a goal. The chance of the half had to be the two-on-one for Masefield and Kiley coming from a counter attack after a Repton corner. Typically Masefield slotted through an exquisitely weighted pass only for Kiley to disappoint his excited teammates with his lack of pace, letting the ball somehow roll through to the goalkeeper.

All in all, a very good win for the OWs. This was a game that the better team won and frankly never looked in danger of losing. We are back to winning ways thanks to back to back victories after our Christmas lull. Unbeaten, top of the league and with the momentum (and big names) back, let's keep up the good work away at Radley next week. Well done boys.