Athium MFC Reserve Division One

Saturday 1st October 2011

Report by Rowland Jordan

The Puritans started well. In the third minute Henry Rose blew a chance as he somehow steered the ball wide of the goal post from only two yards out.

Banbury took a deserved lead following a spell of pressure. Dan Browne put over a perfect cross from the right wing, leaving Joe Eyre the simple task of picking his spot as he headed the ball past a static Leon Oswald.

This woke The Canaries up and immediately Tyron Amory fired in a left foot rocket of a shot that somehow Harding tipped onto the crossbar.

With Barwell on the offensive, first Kieran Dovey fired over then a free-kick from Scott Brown just whistled over the bar. Amory was also denied as his left foot shot rebounded off the bar for the second time in the space of five minutes.

Banbury were by now getting rattled and Steve Howkins talked himself into the Referees notebook on fourteen minutes.

In the twenty eighth minute a left foot shot from Tom Lillicrapp beat Harding, however the Barwell side could only watch as for the third time the ball rebounded off the woodwork to safety.

HT 1-0

The second half saw Harding make two saves from Amory within the space of a minute as The Canaries pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

On the Hour The Canaries deservedly levelled. A beautiful three man passing move paid off as Jonny Paton fired under the advancing Harding to level the scores. Credit must go to the slick, quick passing between Lillicrapp, Amory and Paton in the build up to the goal.

In the seventy fifth minute Harding once again saved the day, this time with his foot as he deflected an Amory shot away for a corner.

Almost immediately substitute James Heathcote put in a rocket of a shot from twenty yards that Harding unbelievably turned out. From the resulting corner Harding held a Paul Lillcrapp goal bound header.

This was a game that could well have had ten goals in it. From a spectator point of view it was exciting end to end and at times one wondered if both teams had dispensed with their midfield.

Harding certainly is a name I will not forget for a while. His performance today has made him a candidate for a higher standard.

FT 1-1

Banbury Utd Res: 1 Jack Harding. 2 Josh Rose. 3 Richard Oakey. 4 Steve Howkins. Joe Davies. 6 James Poppiatt (Capt). 7 Joe Coleman. 8 Callum Convey (15 Sean Snelling 84 min). 9 Henry Rose. 10 Dan Browne (12 Craig Robinson 71 min). 11 Joe Eyre.

Subs not used: 14 Liam Richardson. 16 Durrel Livous. 17 Liam Shea.

Barwell Res: 1 Leon Oswald. 2 Louis Gamble. 3 Chris Castle. 4 Scott Brown (Capt). 5 Paul Lillicrapp. 6 James Tomlin (12 James Heathcote 78 min). 7 Ben Betteridge. 8 Kieran Dovey (Sam Wakefield 61 min). 9 Tyron Amory (16 Stuart Heathcote 81 min). 10 Jonny Paton. 11 Tom Lillicrapp.

Subs not used: 14 Jordan Pickering. 15 Matt Shorrock.

Goals
6 min 1-0 Joe Eyre
60 min 1-1 Jonny Paton (assist Tyron Amory & Tom Lillicrapp)

Yellow Card
14 min Steve Howkins

Red Cards
None

MOM
Chris Castle - resolute and steadfast in defence, played a mature game.

Referee
A Daniel

Attendance
25