Once Again It Was A Case Of So Near But Yet So Far

Cirencester Town 3 Kidlington 2

Report by Nick Duval

Despite unavailability and injuries 'The Greens' still fielded a more than capable side as they made the relatively short trip to Cirencester on a sunny April Saturday afternoon. There were no fears of playing on a synthetic surface as the Kidlington passing game took center stage and the visitors took control as early as the 5th minute when Declan Benjamin’s precise shot found the corner of the goal to give the visitors the lead. With Eddie Odihambo playing in front of the back four, it’s was a relatively new formation for those playing in Orange but once Kidlington adapted to the conditions they looked quite comfortable.

Cirencester found a way back in to the game on 32 minutes after 'The Greens' center back Ben Brown was forced off with a knee injury. Within two minutes of his departure a simple high ball from a corner kick was headed home at far post to tie the score at 1-1.

Soon after this few in a bumper crowd would have objected if the visitors had re-taken the lead as first Anaclet Odhiambo and them Benjamin wasted glorious chances to score, but after all, this is Kidlington FC we are watching.

True to form the home team dominated the early stages of the second period and it was only the cross bar that came between Cirencester taking a deserved lead. Gradually Kidlington’s slicker passing started a pay dividends again and one of these presented Duran Martin with an opportunity that he duly took to restore the visitors lead on 50 minutes. Soon after this if Anaclet Odhiambo had been able to convert one of two of his clear cut chances the game could have been easily have been all but won, but the tide was soon to turn and those missed chances would come back to haunt the visitors. Much of the Greens offensive play had come through Lewis Coyle while clearly tired he was still out performing other less effective players hence it was strange to see him replaced on 67 minutes for McDonagh. Few who witnessed the next ten minutes would not agree this substitution ended the game for the visitors as the home team scored two great goals on 67 and 70 minutes to take all three points. However there was still time for Anaclet Odhiambo to achieve a hatrick of misses when from within the six yard box, and with Conor McDonagh clear on goal, the striker was all too easily denied by a save from the home keeper.

As the game ended those present were left once again to reflect on five clear cut chances and the two goals we actually scored. As for the three we let in, well to be fair that’s what lost this game.

Updated 23:05 - 30 Aug 2019 by Simon Dickens