Crop gained a welcome three points last time out to bottom side Marston Saints which gave them a confidence boost ahead of hosting a match day experience for third place Southam United. The reverse fixture in December brought one of the highlights of the season for Cropredy with a 3-2 victory.

There were midweek injury casualties, in the midfield area that gave selection headaches for manage Sean Dineen. Connor Hancock dislocated his shoulder and Sam Wheatley suffered an ankle injury in training. Therefore Izzy Liverpool returned to the first team line up and there was a return to the squad for Alex Morrish after a six month hiatus.

The first half played out the way Cropredy expected with Southam looking to be the protagonist with Cropredy holding firm and looking to press forward when in possession. However on 10 minutes Southam’s no 18 was allowed to run past at least 3 Crop defenders before playing a square ball to Jay Lawes whose effort at the back post from 6 yards was saved brilliantly by James Cutts. Southam came close again on 24 minutes when a wide free kick was met by a yellow shirt but the header flashed low and wide of the post.

Cropredy chances were at a premium but some great play by Luke Ulla Thomas drifting out wide allowed him to play a ball in behind the Southam defence and Aaron Dineen’s first time flash shot struck the post. That was the closest either of the two sides came to opening the scoring in the first half.

With promotion an opportunity for Southam on the day it was expected that they would throw the kitchen sink Cropredy had the opening chance of the first half, a half volley by Harry Dunham that was on target and saved.

From there though Southam almost opened the scoring twice. A free header from 6 yards looked easier to score than miss but it went wide and a minute later Cutts was called upon again after a Southam striker had dropped off to gain space and shoot on target.

A free kick gave Cropredy an opportunity for Cropredy to get players forward and was almost successful as A.Dineen met Welch’s ball into the box but his header was wide of the post.

Cutts was there to save Cropredy again on 55 minutes. A corner was looking like it was going to go directly in at the near post before he parried it away and after the attack had been recycled by Southam he made another point blank save. Another corner caused danger to Cropredy on 64 minutes but an effort was blocked on the line by a Southam player before being safely gathered by Cutts.

Cropredy enjoyed more possession as the game entered the final stages and on two occasions they played inviting balls across the box that wasn’t met and Alex Morrish almost marked his return with a goal after creating space from two defenders but his effort didn’t have enough power to trouble the goalkeeper.

With 5 minutes to go Southam had a final chance to get all three points with a free kick just outside the penalty area but it was blazed over the bar.

A point was perhaps a fair result for both sides. The point confirmed that Southam will finish in the top 5 and will be promoted to step 6 next season based on their club infrastructure more than sporting success with Bicester Hallions needing just a point to secure the Oxfordshire Senior League title. For Cropredy it was enough example that if they too can gain meet the requirements promotion can be a target for next season.

This was the final game for the first team at Williamscot Road this season with the campaign ending with three away assignments.

Cropredy: Cutts, S.Dineen, Torego, Truman, Palmer, Ulla Thomas, Liverpool (Morrish 62), Dunham (Allum 62), Rogers (Smithers 71), Welch (C), A. Dineen