Men's 2's Match Reports

Bicester Mens II 2 vs 1 Aylesbury III

With both teams hovering above the relegation zone this game was going to be vital for the survival either team. Both teams entered the contest with gusto and a superb defence display by both sides prevented an opening of the scoring. The tempo of the game remained high and it was not until the end of the first half that the deadlock was broken. Aylesbury took a speculative shot from the top of the D which took a slight deflection off the foot of a Bicester defender. This deflection was sufficient to catch keeper Gary Brock off balance as the ball trundled into the net.

Stand in Captain Chris Allen’s team talk clearly took effect as within a minute of the restart Bicester were back on level pegging. Bicester attacked from the restart and were awarded a penalty corner. The initial shot was blocked by the keeper but Daniel Johnson pounced on the loose ball and flicked it into the net. Tensions rose as the game progressed and finally Bicester took the lead with a strike from John O’Sullivan capitalising on a defence error to rifle the ball home from the top of D. Aylesbury pressed for an equaliser and the drama was further raised 7 minutes from time when keeper Garry Brock was yellow carded for dissent and captain Chris Allen stepped into the keeper kit for the rest of the game. Aylesbury pressed with their one man advantage and the stand in keeper Allen pulled off a crucial save from a penalty corner to award him man of the match as Bicester held on for a very close win.

12th December 2009

Banbury III 4 v 1 Bicester II

Bicester IIs produced their worst performance of the season by far and duly crashed to a heavy defeat against local rivals Banbury.

Bicester actually started the game brightly, causing Banbury problems, but yet again never really producing any clear goal scoring opportunities.

Banbury also looked dangerous when they attacked using pace and skill. 20 minutes into the game Bicester took the lead. Dugald Humphreys showed great tenacity to steal the ball from a Banbury defender, drove into the D and his deflected shot was slotted in by Joe Quilter.

Instead of building on this lead, Bicester's gameplan began to fall apart.

Instead of passing the ball around as before, Bicester began to hold onto the ball for far too long and possession was conceded far too frequently.

With Banbury having such a skilful and quick forward line, it was not long before they capitalised. After Bicester lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, a Banbury midfielder charged toward the D. With half the Bicester defence stopping to appeal for a free hit from an apparent foot, the Banbury player passed the ball to an unmarked forward, who slotted the ball past the helpless Bicester keeper. Bicester then began to resort to the hit and hope game and found themselves under increasing pressure. A Banbury short corner

5 minutes before half time resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded when the ball struck Chris Allen on the line. The well taken stroke went in low and hard to the keeper's right, giving Banbury the lead. On the stroke of half time, Bicester were temporarily reduced to ten players after Trevor Joseph made one too many bad tackles and was rightly sin binned.

The second half belonged to Banbury. Bicester huffed and puffed, but the team spirit and belief of the last three games was not there and most of the second half was spent tackling Banbury players and then giving the ball away again. 2 v 1 became 3 v 1 when a Banbury midfielder was allowed to run unimpeded into the D with the ball and duly fired in a shot that went in off the post. Apart from the odd attack into the Banbury half, Bicester were now not in the game. The 4th and final goal of the game came when another Banbury midfielder crossed the ball and a forward tapped in. In the aftermath of that goal Allen passed out, but fortunately was OK after a rest and some water.

With Bicester now only 1 point off the relegation places, there needs to be a marked improvement in the new year to stop Bicester being relegated for the 2nd time in 3 years.

19/9/09 Bicester II 1 v Windsor I 6

Bicester II first home game of the season ended in a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Windsor's First team.

From the off, Windsor looked the sharper and raced into a 2 goal lead in the first 10 minutes.

Even with the visitors in the ascendancy, Bicester began to gel and went close through a counter attack, before John Addis set up our debutant striker, who's initial shot was well saved, but he managed to bundle the ball home on the second attempt to reduce the deficit.

Bicester tried to build upon this and pressed the Windsor defence with good work from Midfielders Lewis Allen and debutant James Pilgrim creating some half chances, but it was Windsor began to pile on the pressure in the last 10 minutes of the half. Bicester began to drop back and Windsor scored 2 more soft goals.

The second half was more encouraging for Bicester. Despite losing influential defender Chris Allen at half time, Bicester came out fighting and won a slightly fortuitous penalty stroke within 5 minutes. The flick was saved by the keeper and Windsor made Bicester pay almost immediately, when a Windsor forward fired the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the D after Bicester failed to clear. Bicester were denied a second stroke twice in a minute after a player was pushed over in the D and the resulting short corner goalbound strike struck a defender's foot with the keeper beaten. As both teams wilted in the sun, Windsor struck a final blow by slotting in a sixth goal late on to complete the scoring. Bicester's Man of the Match went to Tom Butler, who played a solid game in midfield.

It was a disappointing result for Bicester, but there were some good points to build upon for the upcoming league season.

12/9/09 CHISWICK MENS 3'S     2 - BICESTER MENS 2'S     1

Bicester Mens 2's first game of the season saw them travel away to London for a tough encounter with a strong Chiswick side.

With both teams trying to adjust to the new rule changes for this season, the first half was a scrappy affair with both defences making mistakes, one of which allowed the home side to take the lead midway through the first period.

After the break however, it was Bicester who stepped up a gear with forward John Addis hassling the Chiswick backline constantly.

With 15 minutes left, Bicester drew level when Alan Shatford free hit just outside the circle found John O'Sullivan who ran the ball in and put the ball over the keeper into the right-hand side of the goal.

Unfortunately, the celebrations were short-lived as the home side hit back with 7 minutes to go with a close range shot despite the best efforts of keeper Gary Brock and Man of the Match Griff Denton at right back.