Hard Earned Home Win

Kidlington 2 Bishops Cleeve 0

It was a damp afternoon at Yarnton Road for this Evo-Stik South West league match.

Kidlington failed to take maximum points last Wednesday against Cirencester and I'm sure before this game began the players were wanting to make amends.

In the event the 1st half of this game followed a very similar pattern to that of the midweek. Kidlington were seeing a lot of the ball, but the incisiveness in their play was missing.

Kidlington had a couple of chances in the first half hour most notably a Lewis Coyle free kick which went agonizingly wide of the far post and a snap shot from Lance Williams (pictured) which the keeper saved, after he got on the end of a Coyle corner.

Cleeve for their perseverance had a chance or two of their own. Garrison Idles raced onto a lose ball but panicked a bit when he neared goal and Joe Bates saw his free kick go straight into keeper Sam Warrells arms.

The best chance of the half fell to Anaclet Odhiambo in the 36th minute when he intercepted a back pass. Anaclet jinked past keeper Gilder but then hesitated before shooting and Gilder was able to get back and save the day for the visitors.

The second half saw Kidlington re-emerge from the dressing room without Skipper Tom Franklin, he'd taken a knock and James Organ came on to replace him.

The game was certainly more frantic in the half and in the 54th minute it looked like Lance Williams had given Kidlington the lead, however his powerful shot hit the post and was then cleared.

On the hour Anaclet Odhiambo was still feeling his injury from last week and came off to be replaced by Darius Browne.

For me this was the turning point as finally Kidlington had someone in their ranks willing to run at the opposition with pace. Though in a breakaway Cleeve's Ben Hands caught out the Kidlington back line and only a fine save from Sam Warrell prevented a goal.

Kidlington were starting to pen the visitors back in their own half and in the 69th minute took the lead. Browne was working his magic down the left flank before passing the ball on for Tommy Castle, Castle sprinted for the bye line before delivering the perfect pass back to Lance Williams. Williams shot hard and true and although Keeper Gildger did his best to prevent it the ball deflected up into the net for 1 - 0.

5 minutes later and it was 2 - 0. This time it was Coyle's chance to burst into the box, he did so and was brought down from behind. It looked like regular penalty taker Coyle was ready to take the kick but a shout went out from the bench for Duran Martin to take it. Fortunately Martin hit his shot powerfully as keeper Gilder got a good hand to the ball but was powerless to prevent the goal being scored, 2 - 0 and Kidlington were cruising.

Late on youngster Ross McMahon came on to replace Tommy Castle for his debut and he was part of a move that nearly brought about a 3rd goal. Mcmahon slipped a ball to Browne who crossed for Williams but Williams' header was off target.

We played a couple of minutes of added time but no more scares or goals were forthcoming and Kidlington had taken the 3 points.

Team – Warrell, E.Odhiambo, Castle (McMahon 81), Brown, Franklin (Organ 45), Gabbidon, Coyle , Osbourne-Ricketts, A.Odhiambo (Browne 58), Williams, Martin.
Subs Unused – Janes & Tetek
Attn 51

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Updated 07:50 - 1 Sep 2019 by Simon Dickens