Old Wykehamist Football Club

Miles Skinner reports...

After yet another great result the week before, the sun shining brightly and the knowledge that the OWs would be facing a Radley side inferior in technical ability and lacking the pedigree so often shown in OW football, expectations were high against a team who had certainly become somewhat of a nemesis on recent occasions. This was a Radley side that had been outplayed and outclassed on Bulls Drove earlier in the season, but who had somehow snatched a 1-1 draw in the league when the stats man confirmed that not only was this their one shot on target but their only shot at all in a rare folly into the OW half. In fact, the match had even been compared to a Lou Chatterley attack vs defence training game such was the dominance of the OWs. This was also however a Radley side, who had snatched victory in the cup in the dying minutes of extra time, so an opposition that on their day had the tactical nous to upset any opponent.

The change of venue from the Royal Hospital Grounds to a bobbly, hard and very narrow pitch in Holland Park, as well as the absences of Vernon and Neale were an early indication that this match would most certainly not be one for the purists of the game. Space was limited and the usual free-flowing attacking OW football often seen in the dominance of the Arthurian League was forced to make way for, to put it simply, unrefined battling. Conditions played beautifully into the Radleian hands as everything was going through the middle and the game was descending into a physical encounter.

It was the OWs who drew first blood when Ed Marsh saw a well struck shot come back off the Radley keeper and Bertie Redhead followed up to calmly slot home the rebound. At this point, it looked as if the game would only go one way, however a superbly executed long range shot nestled its way into the corner of the OW goal and Radley were back in the game. Spurred on by this strike, two quick goals followed as Radley started to impose themselves. The momentum had been lost and Radley were indulging in the physicality of the game that they so dearly treasure. Late tackles flew in and the enjoyment that the opposition so clearly relished in being able to out-muscle, out-hustle and out-bustle their opponents, was clear to see.

A resounding Spalton team talk at half time had the desired effect and the OW dominance for the first twenty minutes of the second half was encouraging. Possession is indeed nine-tenths of the law, however chance after chance went begging and from nowhere, a Radley free-kick was met by a quite exquisite finish into the top corner and the OWs had again been undone by the impressive aerial ability of the opposition. Ed Marsh provided the highlight of the game with a superbly taken goal, drilling the ball ferociously into the corner, but it was too little too late and the game was up.

It was a frustrating day losing to a team who certainly play to a pre-determined game plan, but with only a handful of games remaining it is imperative that this game becomes an anomaly and although the unbeaten run in the league has come to an end in disappointing fashion, the strength, character and desire of OW football will certainly be tested as we all pull together to show our unrequited bounce-backability.