Matchday Nine saw South Berkshire travel to their least favourite opponents in Oxford University ,having not taken a single point from them last season and losing on every occasion when visiting the City of Oxford since 2020.
Team news saw the return of Ravi Patel, but were still without the influential Tom King with Injury and Jack Baverstock missing out on selection this week.
Berkshires build up for the game wasn’t helped by the whole team not fully turning up, with all the delays on the roads leading to and in Oxford only 20 minutes before kicking off.
The game started under heavy Gray skies with the first action coming in the fourth minute as a speculative shot from Oxford flashing across the Berks goal and just wide of the far post, Berks hit back straight away as a shot from Alex Sykes hitting the Oxford keeper close in and bouncing off to safety
On Eight minutes Oxford won the first short corner of the game, but were penalized for an infringement and the ball returned to Berks .
In the 13-minute won South Berks won their first Short Corner ,after an attacking run by Peter Swan down the right wing .he shot from the corner was well saved by the Oxford keeper ,but Berks were quickly awarded a second corner with alas came to nothing .
On 16 minutes South Berks came close again with Paul Kaplanski running into the D ,and with a defender on his back turned the ball towards Calum Miller, unfortunately a lunging stick from an Oxford defender knocked the ball away just before the ball reached Miller for a clear shot on goal.
South Berkshire were totally dominating the game, and looking very much like Barcelona, with the ball being passed around the defense and midfield for long periods of time and Oxford being pulled from one side of the pitch to the other.
In the 20th minute Berks won a series of short corners, but all three were either saved or the ball being blasted wide of the goal .
All of the Berks pressure finally paid off on 28 minutes as a quick pass from the midfield by Neil Bennett to Alex Sykes on the right wing saw him drive into the D and fire a pass into the goal area where Sam Fox-Harvey turned the ball home for the lead, 0-1.
On 33 minutes Oxford finally got though the Berks defense by the ball was knocked wide of the goal with keeper Baines advancing at the oncoming player, a minute later Baines was again called into action having to kick away the ball to stop the Oxford attack.
Half-time Oxford University 0-1 South Berkshire.
The game restarted with more South Berkshire pressure on the Oxford goal with two more short corners being won in the first 10 minutes, but again came to nothing
Berks were may to paid for all the missed opportunities on 42 minutes when Oxford scored from a short corner high into the Berks net,1-1
Once again Berks pushed onto the Oxford goal, first with an attacking run from Skipper Bruce into the D and another short corner strike from Alex Gray all being blocked by the Oxford defense.
Again, Oxford took advantage of Berks poor finishing with a second goal following a hopeful ball into the Berks D eventually finding an Oxford forward unmarked in front of goal to have an easy finish for a 2-1 lead.
A trio of Green cards on the hour mark, Two for Berks and one for Oxford followed
With 62 minutes on the clock, Sykes took the ball on the 23-yard line and drove forward to the edge of the Oxford D ,an industrial tackle was made on Sykes by an Oxford defender who was given a Green card for his efforts by the umpire and a short corner awarded. A quick discussion by the umpires turned the short corner into a Penalty flick. Step forward Sam Fox-Harvey to calmly knock the ball into the goal from the penalty spot, 2-2.
South Berkshires lead only lasted 4 minutes as Oxford did what Berks couldn’t by converting a short corner into a goal with another high shot into the Berkshire net and 3-2.
Another batch of Green and Yellow cards saw the teams reduced to 9 for Oxford and 10 for South Berkshire for the final minute, but Berks could not make their superior number count and Oxford held out for the victory and another visit to Oxford for nothing for South Berkshire for another year.
The result still keeps Berks 3rd in the league, two points off Haslemere but with a game in hand
Men’s 2nd lost out by the odd goal in seven, 4-3 at Berkhamsted , Joe Hayes with 2 and Marcus Longfield with goals . Still looking for their first win sees them 11th in the league on 2 points
Men’s 3rd won at home against Berkhamsted 4-3, Chris Badger with 2 and Isaac Hodson and Richie Wallace with one each .They lay in 3rd in the league 3 points off top
Mens 4th Drew away at Phoenix 3-3 ,Mike Baylis ,Duncan Clarke and David Badger getting the goals . They remain in top spot 5 points clear of Wycombe
Men’s 5th lost at home to title rivals Reading 0-3 but remain top on goal difference
Men’s 6th lost away 3-1 to Newbury ,James Gibbs with the only goal ,they lay in 9th in the league
Ladies 1st Had a solid 2-0 home win against Oxford University ,Sarah Kelly and Alessia Osbourne scoring. The result keeps them 2nd in the league 5 points behind Reading
Ladies 2nd Got the bragging rights over the 3rd team with a 2-0 win with goals from Celia Macdonald and Emily Evans .The result keeps the 2nd team in third spot and the Ladies 3rd in 11th still looking for a first win .
Ladies 4th did not have a fixture and stay a midtable 6th
Ladies 5th lost a tight home game 0-1 to Maidenhead ,they lay 4th in the table ,2 points off top
The Vets lost 5-1 at Oxted
This weeks games look very subject to the weather
Men’s 1st are at home to Havant at 12.00
Men’s 2nd at home to Thame at 15:00
Vets at home to Windsor at 16:30
Ladies 1st are away at Leighton Buzzard
Ladies 2nd at home to Leighton Buzzard at 13:30
Ladies 3rd away at Bicester
Ladies 4th Home to Marlow at 10:30
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