Bicester Town Colts Devs 0-7 Cropredy Devs

After suffering their first defeat of the season last time out against now league leaders Summertown, Cropredy Devs were raring to bounce back as they went into this game. They took on Bicester Town Colts Devs in the 1st Round of the Clarendon cup. This pitted one of the ‘on paper’ favourites for the cup, against the side currently sitting bottom of the OSL Division Two. Bicester who went through the whole of last season without winning a game, came into this already having more points this season, and in good spirits after some good recent results, and close fought games.

Bicester Devs were a much-changed side than that that Cropredy encountered last season, with a good mix of youth and experience. After conceding twice in the opening 5 minutes last time out, Crop’s focus was to start well and impose themselves from the starting whistle.

Team News
Again, there were several changes to the side, both rotational and enforced due to injuries and absentees. Regular players Jake Harvey, and Captain Damien Robertson were both absent due to injury, whilst James Slaymaker & Ryan Band were also away. Sam Roberts returned in goal and took the armband, Butterworth also returned, and Matt Allum still played despite being ill all week. There was much needed starts for Leo Beales, Michael Zinn and Callum Moon in attack, with Kyran Beales not risked from the start after a knock last week. Sam Varnham-Wrigley returned to the squad, whilst James Keane was also in line for a debut.

First Half

Cropredy started well, knocking the ball around, and were unlucky not to take the lead within the opening 5 minutes. Callum Moon began to threaten down the right flank, and was found by Leo Beales, but his effort from the angle rebounded off the post, and Beales following up dragged his effort wide.

It did take the away side just 14 minutes to take the lead though. Some good football in the middle allowed Matt Allum to gain a yard, and his left footed effort from 20 yards was down the ‘keepers throat, but he fumbled the effort, and Zinn smartly followed it in to tap home his first goal since returning to the club this season. 0-1.

The goal settled Crop, and the game began to open up. They should have extended their lead during a dominant attacking spell but a mixture of missed chances and some good saves from home stopper Reilly frustrated them. Moon has a few chances both saved well by Reilly, as did Beales and Steele from corners, and Zinn pulled a header wide. The best chance saw Allum combine well down the left with Moon but the latter’s cut back was spooned over the bar by Allum.

Bicester had their own great chance during this spell to get a goal. They won the ball back in the middle before releasing a ball over the top. It looked harmless but Steele got in a muddle and mis controlled the ball allowing striker Tadiwanashe Chivenga to rob him, but Crop goalkeeper Sam Roberts came to the rescue making a smart save with his legs. A similar chance also followed as Chivenga got away. Steele got back to force him a little wide, but the striker once again forced a save from Roberts, who was keeping his side ahead.

With half time looming, Crop had one last corners, and it resulted in manager Reading ripping up his half time notes. Moon swung it in, and Bobby Stewart met with a great header into the corner to double the lead and score a much anticipated first goal for Cropredy, that has been a long time coming. Stewart burst into celebration, and embarrassingly sprinted to celebrate in front of the home sides Veo Camera, not his own sides (on the opposite side of the pitch). Two-nil to the away side, and the half time whistle came as the kick off was taken.

Half time – Bicester Town Devs 0-2 Cropredy Devs

Cropredy knew there was still work to do to put the game to bed, but the second goal settled nerves, and allowed them to play with even more freedom in the second period, whilst also making sure they remained solid defensively.

The early periods remained uneventful as both sides struggled to create any chances of note. Cropredy freshed things up with Kyran Beales, Sam Varnham Wrigley and debutant James Keane introduced in place of Allum (who’d done well to complete 55 mins), Jamie Oxley and Butterworth.

It was Kyran Beales who made the next breakthrough in the match. Kyran picked the ball up out wide, and set off, wriggling through 3 players, playing a one-two with Leo Beales, getting away from the last defender and finishing past the goalkeeper into the far corner. The goal on 63 minutes effectively put the game to bed, and Bicester heads dropped. Izzy Liverpool then came on for Charlie MacDonald at left back following the goal.

The Cropredy defence remained resolute, eager for a much needed clean sheet, with Roberts mopping up everything in behind. Cropredy managed to score a flurry of late goals to take the game further away from the hosts. Bobby Stewart doubled his tally on 72’ as he tapped home from a yard, after Reilly spilled a Leo Beales free kick. Reilly did make up for it, brilliantly saving a one on one effort from Kyran shortly after. There was some controversy during the second period, with Assistant Manager Lee Waters shown a yellow card for dissent, and Greg Moon being dismissed as club linesman, after a disagreement with the home bench.

Michael Zinn doubled his tally on 84‘. Leo Beales done well to recycle a corner that made it’s way to the back post, he pulled it back to Kyran Beales, but his sliced effort somehow landed perfectly on the head of Zinn who diverted his header home for five-nil.
Callum Moon, who had been brilliant all afternoon, tormenting the Colts defence, finally got himself some much deserved goals. His first with two minutes remaining, came after another striving run out wide, and his effort on the angle found its way through the legs of the goalkeeper. He then scored another with the last kick off the game. He played a superb cross field ball from the halfway to Kyran Beales who drove forward down the left, and retuned the ball across the 6 yard box to Moon, who’d sprinted from the half way line to get on the end of it, and fire home. 0-7 and the final whistle sounded.

Full time – Bicester Town Colts Devs 0-7 Cropredy Devs

A professional solid display from Cropredy. Some much-needed minutes and goals for some of the squad. Zinn, Leo Beales and Callum Moon all got 90 minutes in the legs, with Zinn and Moon getting goals that will hopefully see them kick on now with plenty more. Cropredy back in league action next week, hosting Kidlington ‘A’ at Williamscot Road, before being back in cup action the following week. Crop will hope to welcome back some of their absentees and injuries from this week.

Good luck to Bicester Town Colts Devs for the rest of their season. Based on the players they have, I’m sure they’ll be climbing the Division Two table over the coming games, with their young striker bound to score plenty of goals for them.

Man of the match – Callum Moon
Tough one with a number of players impressing, but Moon showed his quality today, tormenting the home defence all game long with his pace and dribbling ability. Great that he ended with two goals, getting off the mark for the season, as well as 90 minutes after a few injury problems, and hopefully this will kick start his season with plenty more goals and assists to come.