Men's 4's Match Reports

Newbury & Thatcham IV 2 vs 2 Bicester Mens IV

Bicester threw away the lead twice to once again draw with Newbury in one of two fixtures that survived the weather for Bicester this week.

Featuring a near full strength side Bicester was confident that this fixture which is always keenly contested could go their way. Shortly after the start these chances were further improved when Newbury lost a key player due a calf injury he had sustained in training. Newbury reshuffled but Bicester began to take advantage with Steve Birtles and Graham Harman being to dominate midfield. Newbury looked particularly vulnerable down the right side and Pete Winspear began to exploit this finding Dan Osborn in space to fire in a shot that despite a defender getting a stick to was unable to prevent Bicester opening the scoring. Bicester continued to look threatening whilst Newbury relied on accurate long balls to their forwards to try and breech the Bicester defence. Using this tactic Newbury due level with a simple one two from a pass deep in their own 23m area. Keeper Adam Giles just missed the ball as he dived to block the Newbury forward who passed the ball into an empty net.

The second half saw a more determined display from Newbury as Bicester failed to find its form from the previous half. Bicester regained the lead from a set piece long corner. Chris Birch prepared to pass deep after a call from Alan Shatford. The Newbury defence responded to the call by moving out to block the pass. This provided Birch with a clear run into the D from a self pass before the defence could respond. Birch dribbled into the D, flicked the ball from the by-line to the penalty spot where Osborn was waiting to score his second. Bicester then had opportunities to go two up when Roy carter found himself in space behind the defence but his shot went agonisingly close grazing the outside of the post. Bicester continued to look the side more likely to score but again was undone by the long ball, which found the Newbury left back in the Bicester D with sufficient time to get a bouncing shot away. Bicester applied the pressure for the last ten minutes but failed to achieve the breakthrough and once again had to settle for sharing the points.

Bicester Mens IV 2 vs 0 Henley Men sIV

Bicester IV showed the same issues as ladies first team in a game whereby in the first half they dominated but failed to score. In the second half Henley came more into the game and keeper Adam Giles put in a faultless performance in goal. Bicester finally took the lead trough Alan Shatford’s well placed flick past the stranded Henley keeper and then secured the points later on with man of the match Pete Winspear’s rattling shot from the top of the D giving the keeper no chance.

Bicester IV 3 vs 1 Wallingford

With no easy fixtures in this league, Bicester had to battle in the rain to secure the three points. The first half saw Bicester being by far the stronger side putting Wallingford under a great deal of pressure and took an early lead with the second penalty corner of the game. Martyn Turbayne in his second outing after returning to playing; rifled the ball into the right hand corner form the top of the D giving the keeper no chance.

Bicester maintained the pressure but the start of a fine goalkeeping display from the young Wallingford keeper denied Bicester a second goal until a Miles Tagliferro cross was deflected and looped safely into the D for Turbayne to volley the ball downwards past the keeper as the defence wisely backed off to avoid awarding a penalty stroke. Captain Pete English started to link up nicely with fellow midfielder James Palmer to set up further goal scoring opportunities for the attack but they failed to finish clinically.

From the restart Bicester had opportunities to extend their lead but the Wallingford keeper pulled off some more superb saves. This encouraged Wallingford and the tide began to turn as Wallingford pressured the Bicester goal. Adam Giles pulled off a number of good saves in the Bicester goal; but stood no chance when Wallingford slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner from a penalty stroke awarded after the ball struck Mike Shorthouse’s foot on the line. Wallingford then pressured for the equaliser but the Bicester defence marshalled by Griff Denton held firm. With five minutes to go pressure was finally relieved with Bicester’s final penalty corner of the game. The Wallingford keeper blocked Turbayne’s flick only to see the ball drop into the path of Tagliferro who tapped the ball home with a reverse stick stroke and effectively ended the contest.

11/10/08  BICESTER MEN’S 4TH XI 3  -  ROVER OXFORD HAMSTERS 6