Crop Devs 6-1 Charlton Utd Res

Cropredy Devs returned to league action for the first time since mid December, as they welcomed Charlton Utd Res to Williamscot Road. The sides were yet to meet in the league this season, but Cropredy did overcome their opponents 2-4 on the road, in the OFA Intermediate Cup back in November.

After a win in the Stockton Charity Cup last time out, Crop were keen to get back to league action. The teams around them in the table were due to play last week, but the weather caused their games to be postponed. Therefore, Cropredy still went into the game second in the table, a point behind the leaders with a game in hand.

Team News

Manager Kieran Reading was able to name a full 16 man squad this week, and saw 3 personal changes to the starting line up. Regular goalie Curtly Street (work) & Izzy Liverpool (Firsts) were the only absentees. Chay Miller also made way in the starting 11, meaning a return for regular centre back pairing Kev Cooper & skipper Corey Phillips. Jake Harvey shifted to left back, with Karl Woodcock back to right back. Chris Brown came in between the posts. Hugo Caldeira, Callum Moon & Joe Squirrell also coming in to the squad.

Pleasing to see that there was 7 teenagers in todays Devs squad, the most since setting up the side in 2020.

First Half

Charlton had the first chance of the game as their attacker Aiden Gordon found himself through on goal, but from a tight angle, Brown managed to save well, and Woodcock got back to help him get the ball clear from the rebound. Crop then had their own early chances a both Kyran Beales & Damien Robertson went close, forcing good saves from the away ‘keeper Colin Piggott.

Kyran Beales then had another attempt from the edge of the area, which Piggott fumbled behind for a corner, which would result in the opening goal. Leo Beales swung in the delivery, which was flicked on by Cooper to skipper Corey Phillips who nodded home from a few yards out. Phillips’ first of the season to put Crop ahead on 13 mins.

Cropredy then doubled their lead on 18’ as the lively Kyran Beales got on the scoresheet. A long kick out by Chris Brown, wasn’t dealt with sufficiently by the away back line, and was picked up by Balfour who moved it forward to Leo Beales in the pocket. He was able to turn and slide Kyran in down the right side who then calmly slid the ball past the outrushing Piggott to make it 2-0.

Charlton tried to fight back, but Crop remained firm, and made it three-nil on 31’, as vice-captain Ash Balfour made it two in two games. A kick out the hands from Piggott was sent back towards his goal by a bullet Karl Woodcock header. Mis-read by the backline, who had their arms up appealing for offside, meant the ball ran to Balfour, who had time to get his head up and loft it over the ‘keeper who was in no mans land to get himself a goal. The video footage does show Balfour suspiciously offside, but the goal stood. 3-0.

The Away side battled again, and could have had a goal back. The ball was crossed into the box from wide right, but Phillips’ sliced clearance fell kindly for Humphries who’s turn, and hit was straight at Brown who saved comfortably. Balfour then went close to another goal as he met a Jake Harvey free kcik, but his glancing header came back of the post.

Crop did then extend their lead before the break. A good kick out by Brown after 40 minutes, allowed Kyran Beales to flick the ball on down the right flank finding his uncle Leo. He was able to return him the ball with a delightful outside of the boot pass, Kyran then raced clear and once again slotted nicely under the keeper to get his second of the game.

There was still time for another great chance, as Balfour managed to find Conor Hancock, who had made a great late run into the box, but his goal bound effort was superbly saved by the away keeper, just rolling wide of the far post.

Half time – Cropredy Devs 4-0 Charlton Utd Res

Crorpedy came out looking for more goals and thought they’d made it 5 within the opening minutes for the second half. Hancock played a defence splitting pass through to Kyran, and his dinked effort over the keeper was somehow cleared of the line by a Charlton defender. Crop appealed for a goal as it looked like it had crossed the line, but the referee waved play on. Robertson had a missed attempt as he fired wide with a left foot effort after Beales had slid it across the area for him.

United then found themselves a lifeline. Midfielder DeSouza who had scored twice when the sides me before, placed the ball down 40 yards out for a free kick. His well hit effort eluded everyone including home stopper Brown and whistled into the top corner. A shame for 18 year old Brown who’d had a solid outing in goal for Crop. 4-1. Crop then introduced the talented young Callum Moon for Balfour to try and repark some energy going forward.

Cropredy then won themselves a spot kit. Robertson played a ball over the top, which Kyran Beales managed to get to before the Charlton ‘keeper, knocking it past him before being clattered. The referee seemed to take an age to make a decision before pointing to the spot. A battered and bruised Beales picked himself up, but with the chance of a hattrick, he sent a tame penalty to the ‘keepers right allowing it to be comfortably saved. Skipper Phillips was then forced of with a slight knock, allowing Chay Miller into the game.

Miller was then involved in his side finding the fifth on 73’. He controlled a clearance out, and then found Conor Hancock in midfield. He was able to drive forward then slide in Leo Beales down the left flank. He got his head up and played a smart ball across the area, leaving the keeper stranded. Luckily Kyran Beales read the situation and was first to react as he met the ball smashing it into the net for his hattrick and making up for the pen miss. 5-1. Also a hattrick of assists for Leo Beales.

Following the goal, K.Beales & Robertson made way, as Ben Smithers & Joe Squirrell bought more fresh legs to the attack, and Hugo Caldeira soon followed replacing Leo Beales.

Cropredy would go on to have plenty more chances, but still had to be wary of Charlton’s threat, and they could have easily had a second. A cross field pass alluded Miller, allowing Charlton man Humphries to slide the ball past Brown, but luckily Kev Cooper was on hand to clear the ball off the line for a corner.

Charlton’s keeper kept the score down as he got down to smartly save a Squirrell header, and then the resulting rebound was fired over by Hancock. In the final moments, Squirrell had another chance as Hancock played him in. He rounded Piggott, but his effort was then cleared off the line for a corner.

From the resulting set piece, Cropredy would have their sixth in the closing moments, as Callum Moon’s corner was bundled home at the near post by Cooper. The chimes of ‘Flower of Scotland’ began to ring around Williamscot Road, as Cooper grabbed his overdue first of the season. He wheeled away arm aloft, looking something like a scene from Braveheart.

Full time – Cropredy Devs 6-1 Charlton Utd Res

The final whistle bought another solid display and 3 points for Cropredy. Thanks to Charlton for a good match, and for staying behind for food and drinks after the game. We look forward to visiting Charlton once again later in the season.

With Kennington winning, the table looked the same at the summit as pregame with a point separating the sides. Next up for Cropredy is a trip to Division One Kirltington in the OFA Intermediate Cup. It’ll be a good test against a side in the league above. But with promotion ambitions it provides an opportunity to see where we’re at as a side.

Man of the match – Jake Harvey
Tough one to decide as no real stand out performers for this game, more of an all round solid team display. Harvey gets it as he came back into the starting eleven last week, and has put in two good performance. He was switched position this week but that never impacted things and he played well.