Oxford City Football Club

Having played our last game, I thought I'd compile some notes on the achievements this year.
The players have reached the target of 70 points that I set them back in March, so congratulations to them for that, and we have also scored exactly 100 goals in the league this season which is a very good achievement.
In my last notes I think I made it clear how pleased I have been with the players this season so I won't go on about it this time, but it's fair to say I shook hands with them all and gave everyone of them a big pat on the back for their hard work over the last 9 months after our final game against Witney.
I think our performance in that game showed just how much we've improved since the start of the season in August. Yes we have proved we can play nice football and score goals which is obviously what you want your team to do, but I believe the lads have added a willingness to work hard out of possession, and a desire to head balls out of our own box, and block shots to stop goals going in our own net.
Witney must have had at least 15 corners on Monday night and every time our players showed great intensity to win the first and second ball. This side of the game is massively important and often gets overlooked, but the players have jumped on board with this as the season has developed.
Our general fitness levels have also been very good for the level we are playing, this is also very important.
Having said that we haven't kept as many clean sheets as I would have liked, but this is because as a defensive unit we have struggled to get a regular back four in place throughout most of the season. Joel Meade has missed many games due to suspension and injury, Pete Nagy has also missed large chunks of the season for the same reasons. Darren Quegan has hardly played because of injury, and Kieron Lewis has struggled with unavailability due to being based in Portsmouth at University - all experienced players.
On many occasions we have had 2,3, or on one occasion, 4 teenagers in the Back 4, great experience for the young players but perhaps why we have conceded a few too many goals.
The players have gelled really well as a group. Players who have been around the club for a while like, Milan Barisic, Ben Moses, Joel Meade, Ian Roper and Jemaine Ferreira have been excellent for me and a credit to themselves. The players I have brought in, like Daniel Jones, Justin Gordon, Adam Morris and Matt Blenford have integrated themselves into the group brilliantly. And the boys from the academy, Matt Fessey, Oliver Lynch, Brian Kerry, Nathan Skelton and Felipe Barcelos have gained experience and acquitted themselves superbly.
Also let's not forget James Knight who has been a model of consistency and managed to get himself into the first team squad for the last three games.
Again thank you to Steve Glennister my assistant, and Paul Davis who was with us for the first half of the season. My thanks also to Steve Griffiths for his help and support this season.
Also a big thank you to Dick Lawrence, Brian Cox, Colin Taylor and the rest of the committee for your great support.
I will now look forward to the summer break, come back next season and try to improve on what we've done this year.