Premier Division
OUP 4 Stonesfield 2
Saturday, 09 November 2013
OUP: Matthew Spooner, Ben Strong, Sam Wharton, Diego Petriaggi
Stonesfield: Tom Green, George Redknapp
Recent rain and a morning game left the usually immaculate UOP pitch sticky and slippery for the afternoon kick off. Both Chris Days and Chris Hickin, the Stonesfield and OUP keepers were to suffer from the conditions.
Within 5 minutes a free kick from Tom Green evaded the 'wall' and the gloves of the OUP keeper. The game remained finely balanced with both teams trying to play attractive passing football for the next 30 minutes until probably the best move of the match involving slick passing from 5 OUP players, saw Ben Strong sweep in the final cross to equalise. The game turned rapidly in OUP's favour as a corner was nodded in at the near post by Sam Wharton and a goal mouth scramble saw the unfortunate Stonesfield keeper help the ball into his own net from a stab by Matthew Spooner.
At the turn round with OUP leading 3 goals to 1 the game should have been over but to Stonesfields credit they came out fighting, and after a spell of sustained pressure the ball was again stabbed in from close range in the glutinous goalmouth by Stonesfield's George Redknapp.
Stonesfield continued to pressure and were only kept at bay by a sterling defence from the OUP back four, with Chris Baker and Carlos Arbeu being outstanding. Stonesfields hopes were finally dashed in the 85th minute when a teasing cross from Marlon James found Diego Petriaggi on the edge of the box and his crisp finish gave the keeper no chance.
This was a thoroughly entertaining game, played in good spirit by both teams and expertly controlled by Steve Higa the ref.