Cropredy Devs 6-2 Woodstock Town

On the back of a superb win against 2nd place Sporting Headington last week, Cropredy Devs travelled over to Woodstock in good spirits, looking to add another 3 points to keep the pressure on Headington and Bicester Colts, above them in the table.

Due to a fixture clash, and losing the pitch at Williamscot Road to cricket from mid April, Cropredy were forced to forfeit home advantage for this fixture. Thanks to Woodstock for agreeing to host the game.

Despite sitting bottom of the table, Woodstock have been rejuvenated of late, with a new manager in place, and their first team having folded, since the sides last met in November. The team contained many new faces to that from the previous tie in November, with just 3 players surviving. The turnaround has also seen results improve for Town, with them winning 2 of their previous 3 games going into this one, as they look to make a late surge to climb the table and avoid finishing the season bottom.

Team news
Cropredy were able to name a full 16 man squad for this one. Regulars Butterworth and Liverpool were missing, whilst Jamie Williams faces a spell on the sidelines after coming off with a bang to the head last week. They were able to welcome back Corey Phillips, Leo Beales, Charlie MacDonald and Bobby Stewart who were absent last time out, whilst the evergreen Kev Cooper came into the back four. Maxie Earle also came into the squad, as did Luke Ulla-Thomas with the Firsts game being postponed.
There was much needed starts for Jamie Oxley and Callum Moon, who have found themselves out of the side of late, whilst after an impressive full debut, Barney Timms continued at left back. Harry Treml and Ollie Beesley weren’t risked from the start after recent knocks, whilst Maxie Earle also had a slight back niggle.

First half
Cropredy were guilty of not starting this one well, with some poor decision making in the opposition half costing them. It was no surprise that Woodstock were up for this one, and they deservedly took the lead after just 13 minutes. A great ball down Town’s left channel deceived Oxley, to find Josh Clarke, who was able to take it in his stride and play a ball across the 6 yard box, where Ryan Clark tapped home to give the hosts the lead. 0-1. Clarke who was one of the few survivors, scored two goals when the sides last met.

This was probably to kick up the backside Cropredy needed, and they almost hit back straight away as Leo Beales’ long range looping free kick cannoned back off the bar. The scores were though level on 24 minutes, through a bizarre and comical own goal. James Keane threaded a lovely ball out left to find the advancing Timms. He got past the full back and played a dangerous cross. The centre back slide in, diverting the ball towards his own net, but it went onto the bar via a slight save from the keeper, but as it bounced back out, the Woodstock left back Carson Moss headed it straight into the top corner. 1-1.

Crop kept pushing to take the lead, and Leo Beales should have given it them, but he hit the post with a guilt edge chance from close range. The young linesman was also very trigger happy first half, raising his flag every time Cropredy played a through ball.

The frustrations were mounting, but the goal finally did come, as Callum Moon grabbed his 3rd in successive games. Robertson managed to get the better of the right back, in what was becoming a good battle, before floating one up into the box, where Moon met it with a header into the same top corner that the defender had found 12 minutes earlier. 2-1 after 36 minutes.

Cropredy allowed Woodstock to come back into the game after 40 minutes. A soft free kick was conceded 25 yards out. Ryan Clark stepped up and fired his effort through the wall and into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Roberts. Roberts left reeling as the wall had let the ball go straight through them.

Despite being nowhere near their best, Cropredy regained the lead just a minute later. Kyran Beales played a seemingly poor pass down the right, but the left back dallied, allowing Kyran to chase him and rob the ball, where he then played a quick smart ball across the area towards Robertson. The Crop skipper was able to take a couple of touches to set himself and make the angle, before firing past the goalkeeper. 3-2.

There was a blow in the final minute of the half, as young Barney Timms found himself in the sin bin for dissent, meaning Cropredy would play the opening 9 minutes of the second half with a man down.

Half Time – Cropredy Devs 3-2 Woodstock Town
The message was clear at the interval, stay solid for 10 minutes and see of the period with 10 men, before then going and playing our football again.

Cropredy were expecting Town to come out firing, pressing them at every chance, but surprisingly they did still stand off and let Crop play the ball around with ease in their own half trying to run the clock down until they had a full complement of players again.

Despite not attacking too much, Cropredy managed to extend their lead when the opportunity came. Kyran Beales blocked a pass in the middle of the pitch, that ricocheted out wide. Robertson was in a foot race with the Woodstock defender, which he beat the ball and got away down the right. He then found Kyran Beales with a ball across who had busted a gut to get into the area, and he met it first time to slide it into the near corner. 4-2 after 49 minutes and Crop very much in the ascendancy.

Crop regained their 11th man with Timms re-entering the fray, and on the hour mark they made two changes to freshen things up with Ulla-Thomas and Treml replacing, Keane and Oxley respectively. Cropredy were then guilty of not taking their chances, spurring quite a few. It took until the 69th minute for Cropredy to put the game to bed as Ulla-Thomas got himself a goal. His initial poor pass was intercepted but he quickly won the ball back just outside the area, before playing a one-two with Leo Beales, to see him into the area, he shimmied past the remaining defender before slotting home past the keeper.

The rest of the bench was then emptied as Beesley, MacDonald and Earlie came on for, Moon, Timms and Leo Beales. On 77 minutes Cropredy scored their 6th goal as the ever-impressive Harry Treml scored his 2nd goal in 3 games. Ulla-Thomas threaded through a delightful ball down the right, and without breaking stride Treml slotted it past the keeper for 6-2.

Woodstock did score the final goal of the encounter with 10 minutes remaining and it was another comical own goal. Corey Phillips tried to clear a cross from wide with an overhead kick but it flew back towards his own goal, which Roberts managed to fumble into the net.
Cropredy should have scored more with more missed chances, but on a day when they was well off it performance wise in comparison to recent wins, they were glad to come away with the 3 points.

Full Time – Cropredy Devs 6-3 Woodstock Town

Woodstock kept battling all game, and we wish them well in their remaining league matches. Thanks once again for hosting and for their hospitality post game.

Unfortunately we are unable to post the match highlights on YouTube this week, after a complaint from one of Woodstock’s committee members. They refused to give consent/permission due to them having an under 18 player in their squad. First time we’ve encountered an issue on highlights from an opposing club.

Crop’s attention now turns to the cup. We travel to Charlton United Res next week for the Semi Final of the Clarendon Cup. Yarnton Res await in the final, after thrashing Launton Res 7-1.

Man of the match – Luke Ulla-Thomas
Ulla-Thomas was a late addition to the squad this week, and despite only playing just over half hour from the bench was a the best player on the pitch, with a goal and an assist. He was a key player in last seasons run in to see the Devs win the league and cup double, and is an ever present for the first team this campaign. Harry Treml also once again impressed, coming off the bench to score from full back.