Diddy let 2 goal lead slip at Yaxley

It was a bitterly disappointing afternoon in Cambridgeshire on Saturday for Didcot Town who despite racing into a 2-0 lead at Yaxley fell to a somewhat harsh 4-3 defeat on the 4G at Yaxley’s Leading Drove ground.

The Railwaymen made one change from last weekend’s FA Trophy victory over Hertford with Luke Carnell back at the heart of the defence meaning Cameron McNeill shifted back to left back with Morgan Williams playing ahead of him. Brett Gardner was the player demoted to the substitute’s bench.

It all started so well for Didcot as after some early pressure David Murphy picked up the ball on the edge of the box, he made space for himself and let fly with a low fierce strike that flew into the bottom corner and Didcot were ahead.

Leigh Bedwell had to be alert to turn over an effort from distance as the hosts tried to respond before George Reid went on a mazy run, he was challenged well as he was about to shoot with the ball falling to Williams but his effort went narrowly over the bar.

Not satisfied with the 1 goal lead Didcot continued to go forward and it was 2-0 after 19 minutes. Michael Alexis played a sublime cross field ball to the onrushing Sam Barder in the wide right position, he took a touch and fizzed a low cross to where Reid was waiting and the winger was able to slide in Didcot’s 2nd as the Railwaymen threatened to run away with the game.

Yaxley already having suffered a few heavy defeats this season were rocking and as Didcot looked to try and add to the pain it was they who were surprisingly caught out at the other end, Didcot appealing for an offside that never came allowed Kyle Nolan too much space on the left hand side, his cross eventually found its way to Thomas Waumsley who managed to beat Bedwell with a low effort from around 10 yards.

Despite this setback Didcot should have made it 3-1 5 minutes later as firstly Seth Humphries put a free kick over from no more than 20 yards before the big two chances for the Railwaymen as a low cross found Murphy who seemed certain to score from 6 yards but the striker took an extra touch before eventually shooting towards goal only to see his effort saved by Oliver Sutton onto the post, the ball came back out and was crossed back in to Williams but the winger despite having a free header didn’t make good enough contact with it, the ball being cleared off the line before Barder whacked the follow up over.

Williams again then went close as he shifted the ball onto his left foot and let fly with a stinging effort that Sutton did very well to tip over. It looked like that would be the final action of the half and although 2-1 up Didcot were probably going to be annoyed at not killing the game off, incredibly it got worse when on 45 minutes with a massive hint of offside about it Yaxley broke away and Matthew Sparrow was able to cross to the impressive Nolan who swept the ball home and the game was almost unbelievably back level at half time.

Half Time. Yaxley 2-2 Didcot

With the momentum shifting dramatically and the hosts now sensing Didcot were the side wobbling they completed the turnaround on 51 minutes. It was groundhog day in the Didcot backline as yet again they appealed and failed looking for an offside flag and this time Daniel cotton was the beneficiary, finding space he slotted high and true above Bedwell to put Yaxley ahead. Didcot turned to their bench introducing Lance Williams and Aaron Woodley for Alexis and Murphy but it was to have little effect on the game. Yaxley now looking a lot more confident at both ends of the field were holding the Railwaymen to few chances and in fact they then went on to seemingly seal the game.

On 75 minutes, Barder went down under a challenge from Nolan the referee not deeming it a foul allowed Yaxley to break away with Barder down and out of position, again Nolan exposed the now vacant space perfectly crossing to Charley Sanders to side foot in from close range and now Didcot having been cruising earlier on now found themselves 2 down with just 15 minutes to play.

Brett Gardner was introduced for Didcot’s final change replacing Humphries and the young winger turned provider on 85minutes to give
Didcot a lifeline when his low cross wasn’t dealt ith, the ball fell to Reid who showed good composure to finish high into the net to setup a grandstand finale. Carnell was pushed upfront for the final moments and following a long ball into the box that Carnell flicked on it fell to Morgan Williams who in the 3rd minute of stoppage time had the chance to salvage a draw for Didcot but Sutton came to the hosts rescue with an excellent point blank save.

The final whistle went on a bitterly disappointing afternoon for Didcot who will look at this game as one that certainly got away. The Railwaymen have the chance rot make amends on Tuesday night (7:45pm kick off) as Berkhamsted visit us at the Loop in league action.

Full Time. Yaxley 4-3 Didcot Town

Didcot Team
Bedwell
Barder
McNeill
Hayden
Carnell
Learoyd
Reid
Alexis (L Williams)
Murphy (A Woodley)
Humphries (Gardner)
M Williams

Subs not used. Thomas, Ballard