OCVC Match Report

Oxford and Cherwell Valley College Football Development Centre

 English Colleges League Fixture versus Peterbrough College

 Wednesday 22^nd November 2006 at Abingdon United FC 

OCVC 3 – 2 Peterbrough

Lyle Gifford scored a late winner for Oxford and Cherwell Valley College against a strong Peterbrough team consisting of several academy players from the professional club. 

 Oxford started the brighter and dominated early possession and punished the visitors for a lack of concentration when Tom Roberts curled his quickly taken free kick into the top corner. The visitors were restricted to shots from distance that rarely troubled keeper Nick Lacey.  Ten minutes before half time Oxford consolidated their lead follow a text book wall pass between Roberts and John Wood leaving Roberts with the easy task of rolling the ball past the advancing keeper.  Peterbrough gave themselves a fighting chance when they scored against the run of play in first half injury time following poor defending by the otherwise excellent Lyle Gifford and Lewis Gabbidon allowing Heron space in the area to drive across goal into Lacey’s bottom corner. 

Oxford could have restored their two goal advantage five minutes into the second half when good interplay between Roberts and Gifford gave Danny Haining the opportunity to finish at the back post but missed his kick.  Five minutes later the visitors equalized when Balkwill’s miscued shot rebounded of Luke Brennan straight back to him to fire home.  Peterbrough dominated the remainder of the half against a tiring Oxford defence which ultimately stood firm including two fantastic covering tackles by Richard Brooks and an excellent save by Lacey from point blank range.  Man of the Match Lewis Gabbidon intercepted a cross field pass to supply substitute Harry Trethowan who picked out fellow sub Wayne Moscrop who fired his left foot volley past the post from twenty yards before Gifford secured the points for Oxford.  The visitors failed to clear the ball following an Oxford corner and the ball fell to Haining whose well struck shot could only be parried by Sutton and Gifford was on hand to smash home the winner.

Football Conference Youth League

 Wycombe Wanders 1 – 2 Abingdon United

Abingdon United traveled to Wycombe Wanderers and came away with three points.  Abingdon took a deserved half time lead through top goal scorer Deshawn Whiteman and John Mills scored his third in two games early in the second half.  Wycombe’s consolation goal came late on but Abingdon held on for their second league win of the season.

English Colleges Girls League 

Oxford and Cherwell Valley College 1 – 0 Cambridge

Oxford and Cherwell Valley College Girls team secured the double over varsity opposition Cambridge thanks to a goal by Felicity West.  West should have scored the games second when her shot from thirty yards found the bottom corner and escape through a hole in the net leaving the unsighted Referee to award a goal kick.  Fortunately the incident didn’t affect the outcome of the game and Oxford held on to maintain their unbeaten record.