City 1-2 Oxford United

[Padz]

Senior Cup Semi Final

Weds 3/3/10

Oxford United 2vs1 Oxford City

[lomax]

Brilliant! Just around the corner from me. Let us know more info when you get it!

[lomax]

From the website:

Wednesday, March 3rd.

The Semi-Final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup between Oxford City and Oxford United is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 3rd at Court Place Farm (k.o. 7.45)
This will be the first time that City will have played United in a competitive match at CPF.
They last met in the Senior Cup at the Kassam Stadium in the Final of the competition on 2004: United running out 3-1 winners.

[lomax]

Report from the last game:

Kidlington 2 Oxford United 3 (aet)

Attendance 578

Brave Kidlington denied by Turley brilliance

In a pulsating cup tie here at Yarnton Road Kidlington were extremely unlucky to lose to a very strong Oxford United side. Kidlington led twice but were pegged back and finally undone by a Franny Green goal in extra time. If you ever wanted an advert for Hellenic League football then this was certainly it. Kidlington stretched their more illustrious neighbours to the limit and you really couldn’t tell who were higher league team over the 120 minutes.

United applied the early pressure and the first real chance of the match fell to Jamie Cook from a free kick. Cook whipped the ball in well, but Kiddy Keeper Rob Hamling was equal to it. Soon after this a fine ball turned inside found Oxford’s Richard Groves but he shot wide from the edge of the box.

After Oxford’s early dominance Kidlington began to peg the visitors back. Lewis Coyle saw a powerful shot whistle over Billy Turley’s bar, after that Turley was tested twice in a matter of minutes, firstly by Luke Holden and then Mark Baker. Both times the experienced keeper pulled of excellent saves.

It was now Kidlington making all the running and on 35minutes they took the lead. United defenders, Adam Chapman's and Henry Owen got themselves in a pickle and Jack Quainton was able to rob the ball away from Owen. Quainton ran at goal and drew Turley, as the keeper came out he squared the ball to Holden. Holden shot but the outstanding Turley got a hand to it, quick as a flash Quainton was onto the loose ball and calmly stroked it home for 1-0.

Shortly after this Kieran Sanders delivered a wonderful cross into the box from the right flank. Holden and Turley went for the ball and Turley managed to tip it behind foe a corner.

As we went into added time United were pressing for an equilizer. Jordan Parker who had sustained a cut was requested to leave the field to change into a ‘blood shirt’. Whilst he was still trying to get back on United’s Franny Green seized this opportunity. After Chapman’s initial cross was cleared, from the edge of the box Green hit a great strike which Hamling did well to get a hand to, but couldn’t prevent going in for 1 – 1.

H.T. 1 - 1

In the 1st 5 minutes of the second half Turley make two tremendous saves again, firstly to deny Baker and then Holden what looked certain goals. From this point Kidlington’s pressure was immense and on 58 minutes they reaped their reward when Jordan Parker prodded the ball home after Turley could only parry a header from Holden. The majority of the largest crowd for many seasons at Yarnton Road when crazy as Kidlington’s lead was restored.

However, I don’t know if it was the shock of leading again but Kidlington allowed United to level again only a minute later. James Dobson whipped in a decent cross from the left which was brilliantly controlled by Jamie Cook, Cook surged forward and seeing he was unchallenged let fly with a stunning shot which found the far corner of the net with Hamling well beaten. This was a goal worthy of any match anywhere..

Franny Green and Matt Green linked up well in the 67th minute, with the latter’s header arcing toward goal until Hamling pawed it away.

In the 74th minute Kidlington nearly snatched the league once again. Kieran Sanders again provided a fantastic cross into the box where Baker rose well and headed powerfully for goal. That man Turley was there again to make another telling stop.

As we neared the 90 minute mark of this ‘full blooded’ cup tie both teams were battling it out in mid-field and the tie really could have gone either way as both teams had late half chances. As it was though neither team could conjure up a winner, so we went into extra time.

Into the extra time phase and you could see that Kidlington’s players who had given their all over the 90 minutes were starting to visibly tire. On 102 minutes Franny Green volleyed home at the far stick firing his shot into the roof of the net from the 10 yards out to make it 3-2 and give United the lead for the 1st time in the match.

As the pace of the game dropped dramatically as two tired teams slugged it out., the second period of extra time will be remembered for two incidents. The first of these was a nasty foul committed by Lee Fowler on James Philpott, for which Fowler received a yellow card, perhaps in other circumstances the punishment would have been more severe?. Philpott had to be carried form the pitch and Kidlington were thus reduced to 10 men.

The second of these incidents was the disqualification of what looked a perfectly good goal for Kidlington substituted Lee Rendell. Another of the Kidlington substituted Jack Johnson created the opportunity, Johnsons ball in found the onrushing Rendell who out jumped his marker and he powered a header past Turley. He wheeled away in triumph but then inexplicably the official on the far side raised his flag and the goal was chalked off.

There was still time for a late effort from Mark Flanagan, but his rasping drive fizzed over Turley’s bar and the referee Mr Jon Farries brought proceedings to a close.

At the end of the day this had been a great match contested fiercely with no quarter asked or given. Oxford really knew they had been in a battle Royal. I can’t say for sure but on the night it is my opinion that United’s Keeper Billy Turley was the difference. He made 4 or 5 fantastic saves which in the end proved decisive. Their really wasn’t a difference between the two sides out there on the pitch and considering the age of the Kidlington team this was a fantastic performance, you could say a coming of age. All I can add is COYG & roll on Saturday – More of the same please

Mixed team made up of a few first teamers (Turley the 'keeper, Creighton and striker Matt Green on loan from Torquay), a handful of reserves and youngsters. I've looked at the United fixtures and they're away to Cambridge the night before, so can't imagine alot of first team players will be on show on the Wednesday.

[ONLOOKER]

If the senior cup game with OUFC is on the 3rd of March when is the Turo game going to be rescheduled

[lomax]

Yes if someone could address this that would be great.

[ChrisB]

The Truro match will not take place on 02/03, but no new date has yet been announced.
Still, with all the postponements of this game, at least the evenings are drawing out

[lomax]

ANYONE GOING TONIGHT? EXCITED???

[lomax]

From the OUFC Website:

[Captain] Adam Murray makes his return to action tonight as United take on Oxford City in the semi-finals of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.

Murray has missed just over a month with a back problem but has trained for the past week and will make his comeback in a strong looking United side that includes several youngsters looking to gain experience.

Billy Turley is likely to get ninety minutes in goal with Mark Creighton and Kevin Sandwith pencilled in for defensive roles. Murray, Franny Green, Ashley Cain, Jack Midson and Jamie Cook are also set to play [plus a load of youngsters]

[lauraocfc]

Looking forward to tonight! Any ideas on crowd numbers?

[ChrisB]

A hard one to call: let's say 600-700 (though more would be good - but then I'm not doing the cooking )

[hedges]

Looks like you were far to optermistic Chris, only 261 according to the Us match report, poor turn out.
Though I admit I was one person who was commited to other plans tonight so couldn't make the game.

These poor attendances can't be doing OCFC finances any good, seems like a concistent run of poor crowd numbers a swell recently.

[lomax]

Only about 100 United I'd say, but as they took 500+ to Cambridge the night before I'm not suprised that numbers were low. Add to that England were playing on TV and it was F**king freezing, I'm not suprised numbers were low.

The "Choir" were in good voice and numbers. Can't really talk this morning which always means it's been a good night of singing. "Drummer, give us a beat", "No noise from banana boys". Good banter all round.

As for the match, bit dissapointing. We had sssooo many chances in the first half. Steele must have gone through five times to no avail. Second half we all knew what was coming - it sounds like a similar story this season - rue missed opportunities and we'll pay for it, with United's goal coming in the second half after a spell of pressure.

Their second, well it completely ruined a good evening. Can't believe the ref did that. It was a complete shock to everyone in the ground. After that though, we should have thrown players forward and really gone for it, but that didn't really happen.

Whatever though, we gave a really good account of ourselves. At least we can concentrate on pushing on in this league and try to get up in the play offs.

[ChrisB]

Mar 4, 2010 0:52:25 GMT hedges said:

Looks like you were far to optermistic Chris, only 261 according to the Us match report, poor turn out.
Though I admit I was one person who was commited to other plans tonight so couldn't make the game.

:-[Never was good at guesses - but I thought that if Kidlington/Utd could draw 500+ in the last round we might outdo them. But I'd not factored in Utd going to Cambridge or Ingerland on the box.

OK, then, I'm off to Ladbrokes for a punt on 70-80 tonight for Nomads v Wantage