After a false start to the season Crop finally got their campaign started at the third attempt. It was manager Lawrence O’Sullivan’s first official game in charge and he handed out five debuts in addition to second debuts for Harry Walters and Dan Reeves who have recently returned to the club.

It was a competitive start to the game with many 50/50 challenges and loose balls contested in the opening exchanges. Cropredy created the opening chances of the game through a saved shot from Reeves and a few minutes later he came close again striking the outside of the post. Cropredy started to take control of proceedings and went ahead with n 18 minutes from a training ground move when Charlie Jefferies’s strong header met a Jack Welch out-swinging corner.

Bure Park had their closest opportunity of the game midway through the first half when James Cutts in the Cropredy goal parried a shot but Zain Mohammed reacted quickest and hacked the ball away to safety before an on rushing attacker could tap home. Crop came close again with shots from Will Dee and an agonising effort from Mohammed that flashed across the face of goal. Cropredy eventually doubled their lead on 27 minutes. Some good defensive work from central defensive partners Jefferies and Ruben Torego foiled a promising Park attack and the ball was fed out to Harry Dunham wide on the right who drove forwards in space and squared for Walters who marked his return in a blue and white shirt with a well taken goal.

Cropredy looked to get that vital next goal in the second half and came close numerous times. Mohammed was excelling as a marauding left back on his debut and came close three times, once striking the post after nutmegging two opponents. Cropredy eventually were awarded a golden opportunity to extend their lead on 60 minutes when Walters drove into the box and was clipped and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Dineen, has topped the club scoring charts every season in recent years and he opened his account for 22/23 by converting past the goalkeepers right.

Minutes later Mohammed, who had been an attacking threat all game from left back got his reward, again finding himself in the opposition penalty area and this time slotting into the far corner.

There was a bit of a lull after the forth goal for a brief period as early season fatigue hit both teams, and Bure Park had their best opening of the second half as Mohammed was caught out of position and a young winger from Park blazed his shot over the bar. Cropredy sealed their opening points of the season with 15 minutes to go. Dineen won a knock on to head back into the path of Reeves, who was playing despite an eye injury, and his sumptuous volley from 20 yards was a sight for sore eyes.

A fine start to the season but attentions now turn to the return to action at Williamscot Road next Saturday as Cropredy host Carterton.

Cropredy: Cutts,Wheatley(Berry 67), Torego, Jefferies, Mohammed, Dee, Reeves, Dunham (Colombo 55), Welch (C), Walters (Williams 80), Dineen. Sub not used: Fraser

Goals:

Jefferies 18
Walters 27
Dineen (Pen) 60
Mohammed 63
Reeves 75