What a great game that was and a great advert for Hellenic League football, with both sides doing all in their power to win the game.

Lets just go through the goals!

Witney 1 - 0 Up, Great free kick well taken, without taking anything away from the strike it seemed to be Greenwich Borough revisited - Hungerford do have thier problems from free kicks

Witney 2 - 0 - Another good stike into the near post although Hungerford did have thier chances to clear

Hungerford 1 - 2 Witney - A 12 yard volley from Ben Fitch who did well to power home a ball that was quickly dropping in the box

Hungerford 2 - 2 - The equaliser a 30 yard header from Nick McCrae that everyone failed to deal with.

Hungerford 3 - 2 - Just before half time Ben Fitch powers home a cross shot

3 - 3 - Just after Half time Hungerford fail to clear yet again and Witney are back in the game

Hungerford 4 - 3 - The winner and another great goal, Copp brings it out of defence and passes to Edney down the left he layes it across the box for Gosling to power home

Team

Dom - Not a great night but his defenders could have helped him out

Copp - Read the game brilliantly and had a role in the winning goal

Joner - A couple of good blocks and worked hard

Tobs - Starting to find top form again

Macca - Skipper for the night and a great goal

Fitch - His best game for weeks, 2 great goals

Edders - Worked really hard again created much

Brewer - Typical Brewer in Witney's face all game

Goz - Goal machine and a real pain for anyone to play against

Conners - Didn't have a golden chance but again hard working

Chaz - Gives the aireal option and is always available.


Crowd 75 - Pretty poor showing for 3rd V 4th - Where are all those Vase followers now! I suppose they will come back should we go top!

 

What a disappointment as wing back Hungerford went out of the Vase after a poor game against Whitley Bay. Hungerford never seemed really to get going being more concerned with defending Whitley than attacking them. The first half was pretty even but neither side managed to get a shot on target. Hungerford did look the more lightly but stout defending blocked a couple of goal bound attempts from the ever busy Austin and the willing Gosling who looked to be Hungerford’s main threats.

Being goal less at half time and kicking down the slope you normal hope Hungerford will come flying out of the traps in a bid to get an early goal alas it was not to be and indeed a when Brewer and Jones went for the same header the ball found Whitley’s striker who evaded the challenge of Davis to score past a helpless Dominic Green. A soft goal to concede in vital game but such is Hungerford’s recent want.

The feeling was that a Hungerford response was surely due but only Austin managed to create a chance of note and his shot was parried just before the line. The game slipped into a kind of lull and despite the biggest crowd of the season being in attendance it was surely the strangest atmosphere with the team failing to lift the crowd and the clock ticking on. Powell was thrown on for Jones but despatched as a wing back and failed to give the home side some much needed width. With five minutes to go Edney the other wing back was replaced by Copp but it was still two minutes after that Concannon was finally thrown on the pitch. The last 2 minutes and injury time proving to be Hungerford’s most potent with Copp setting up Austin who’s powerful header was just tipped over the bar by a flying keeper. Toby Clarks goal bound lob from the resulting corner was dispatch in similar fashion but it was too little to late as Hungerford’s Vase pain continued in a game that was there for the taking.

Team

 

Dom – Good display, no chance with the goal good on crosses but little else to do.

Jones – Not a wing back and a nervous game

Bruiser – High tempo but not his greatest game.

Tobs – Struggled to get going again his recent form has been a concern

Macca N – The defence was pretty solid as was Macca

Bedders – ditto

Edders – Another reluctant wing back

Chaz – Hungerford’s motm never stopped working, and it looked like it really hurt

Fitch – Striker / Winger / Central midfielder? Where next for the much discussed Fitch?

Goz – Always a danger but never quite created that killer moment.

Davis – Another defender with little to do

 

Subs

Powell – Another reluctant wing back

Copp – ditto

Conners – 32 goals sat watching for 40mins of being 1 – 0 down?

 

 

 

 

Hungerford were missing Jamie Gosling, Graham Edney & Luke Brewer for the visit of Kidlington on Saturday. Steve Davis was preferred to Nick McCrae at centre back.

 

Hungerford started off brightly with Charlie Austin providing the main threat with some runs down the right. Adam Mayo looked busy alongside Toby Clark in midfield but Hungerford struggled to create a clear cut opportunity.

 

Kidlington are a well organise unit and the sort of side you don’t want to give anything too, Hungerford however were in charitable mood and Jim Smith conceded a needless penalty that was dully converted.

 

Hungerford then had two great penalty shouts themselves for handball, the first in particular should have been given. It was Adam Mayo however who converted the equaliser with a great strike under the keeper. Mayo again soon after could have made it two but an excellent save from Kidlington’s stopper denied him.

 

In the second half the patter of play followed much the same as the first although Hungerford did up the tempo a bit and Ian Concannon forced another brilliant save from the goal keeper.

 

Charlie Austin should have scored mid way through the half but put his header over the bar.

 

Ian Concannon then scored with 10 minutes to go with a brilliant finish that will hopefully kick start his goal scoring form

 

Kidlington did press for an equaliser but the closest them came was when Paul Powell had to head an effort from a corner off the line

 

Team

 

Dom – Kicking was a bit erratic but handling good

 

Copp – Reads the play well and eases defensive nerves

 

Jim – Bob – Gave away a needless pen

 

Tobs – Not at his brilliant best.

 

Davis – Looking better with every game

 

Bedders – Another solid game

 

Powell – Showed his willingness to work with a goal line clearance

 

Chaz – Another workman like display but should have scored

 

Conners – Hopefully the goal will ease his worries

 

Mayo – Our best player in the first half but faded a bit in the second

 

Fitchy – Showed he was better up front when put there.

 

SUBS

 

Joner – Not much time to show but a good cross nearly produced a goal

Cup games are not about performances they are about results. It’s a phase well used over this weekend with the FA Cup in progress and you can’t help feeling that the same statement applied to Hungerford in their Vase win over Greenwich. The first half was Hungerford’s best period, Luke Brewer almost scored from the kick off when Jamie Gosling set him up for a shot that sailed past the right hand post. It was Gosling again soon after who shot straight at the keeper and quickly after Greenwich’s keeper made another excellent save from the hard working Brewer. The main talking point of the half came when Jamie Gosling was brought down in the box everyone thought penalty apart from the officials who thought dive, a very harsh decision for what from my view was a stonewall penalty. To add insult to injury Gosling was duly booked for simulation and Hungerford supporters left in dis-belief.

Greenwich had the better of the second half, with the pattern of play much like the first game. Greenwich’s shooting left much to be desired though but a moment of magic from Greenwich’s Mohammed broke the deadlock with a fine solo goal with less than 20 minutes to go. Hungerford were wobbling and possibly going out the Vase many thought. Fortunately for us Toby Clark and Jamie Gosling had other ideas. Clark caught the Greenwich defence asleep with a quick free kick rolled to Gosling who struck in shot to the far corner for the equaliser just a minute after Mohammed’s goal. Perhaps the Greenwich defence were in shock that the referee had given a foul against them as Gosling, Powell and Austin had not had much joy all afternoon from the referee.

We now entered the period of injury time, the 4^th official held up a board saying 3 minutes but everyone knew that could be ignored after the first game he might as well have held up a "hello mum" sign. It was during the mystery time that Hungerford achieved payback for the Bulpit Lane game. Well over 4 minutes in Powell found himself in the box surrounded by three defenders but some how managed to force the ball across the area, Gosling swung a foot at the ball and just connected, the world then seemed to go into slow motion as the keeper and defenders all tried to reach the bobbling weak shot but they couldn’t and it crept guiltily into the goal without the strength to hit the back of the net. Gosling, Austin, Powell, Brewer all leapt into the visiting supporters in a state of disbelief that we’d actually turned this one around. Jamie Gosling not known for scruffy goals will surely have not scored a more important goal than this and it was arguably the most important Hungerford goal since 1989.

The mystery time did not end there though and there was time for what’s being talked of as the battle of the borough to take place. This incident must have been well into the 6^th /7^th minute of injury time and Greenwich were obviously frustrated. I did not see the incident that started it all off but it resulted in 4 red cards, 2 for each team Shand and Bedwell being dismissed for Hungerford. Dominic Green saved the resulting free kick denying Greenwich their last chance and ensureing Hungerford a first ¼ final place since 1989

Team

Dominic - An exceptional game and back to his best form

Macca - Very solid defensive display

Jim Bob - Probably Hungerford's man of the match even his passing was on target!

Tobs - His Quick thinking set up the equaliser

Davis - An impressive debut right into the fire

Bedders - A black eye and a red card to remind him of the war he was in

Bruiser - His type of game very bright all through and never say die as always

Chaz - Worked his socks off

Goz - The headline grabber strikes again twice!

Copp - Another impressive game

Powell - Looking sharper by the game always a threat.

SUBS

Shandy - Was a very unlucky man on Saturday

 

 

 

 

Hungerford lined up with a 4 - 4 - 2 formation against Milton ditching the wingbacks. Mark Jones, Paul Powell, Jim Smith and Luke Brewer came in from Saturday's starting line up, with Concannon, Mayo, Edney and Austin making way.

Milton scored an early goal via a free kick which seems to be Hungerford's weakness for this week, a high cross was bundled into the net via a combination of ex Hungerford captain Flockton and current Hungerford captain Bedwell.

The first half was a really frustrating affair for Hungerford whose stuttering play continued throughout the half. On a posititive note a lot of crosses were being put into the Milton box mainly from Jones and Copp and chances fell to Bedwell and McCrae from corners. Concannon form the bench must have benn wondering why these crosses only appear when he's sat watching.

The equaliser came when Fitch was adjudged to have his shirt pulled in the box, a great spot form the linesman although initially the referee seemed to play on as Fitch fluffed his shot wide. Gosling despatch the penalty with aplomb at leave the scores level at the break

Milton started well after the break although they never fully threatened the Hungerford goal. The best chance of the half fell to Powell who was put in the clear by Fitch only to shoot straight at the keeper.

Just when you though a frustrating draw would be the result Powell scored the winner after good work from Jones again.

Gosling and Powell went close to making it 3 - 1 late on as Hungerford held for the draw.

Team

Dom - Good handling and kicking, the free kick mayhem will be a worry though

Copp - Great game again this time at right back

Jim Bob - A first team return struggled ealry on but settled in the latter stages

Toby - Another game where he wasn't his usual quick passing self

Macca N - Nearly scored with a first half effort

Bedders - A nasty cut and an alleged own goal a night to remember for our captain

Joner - Wingers attacking and crossing ? Whatever next!

Fitchy - despite 2 cruical moments of the game involving him, not a great display.

Gosser - Great pen and his usual awarkard self for the oppostion

Brewski - He's here he's there he's everywhere

Powell - Nearly scored 3 and his touch was excellent

SUBS

Macca M - An outing up front showed is adaptablity

Not used - Conners & Mayo

Hungerford started the "biggest game in years" with the now customary 3 - 5 -2 formation with Fitch and Edney taking up the unevied task of wing backs. Paul Powell was unavailable and Adam Mayo was preferred over Luke Brewer.

Hungerford started solidly although not spectaclar. It was the visitors who gained the first clear cut chance though with a run down the right of Hungerford's defence but Dominic Green snuffed the chance out.

Hungerford then scored what we were all hoping for an early goal, Jamie Gosling who was beening marked tightly at last found some space down the left and his cross was powered in by the head of Charlie Austin (which sent the younger fans wild and increased the CHARLIE shouts). This goal settled Hungerford down and after a good run and cross by Ben Fitch, Ian Concannon could only head over. It was Concannon again who had the next chance, chesting the ball down in the box he just failed to poke the ball into the far corner. The scored remained 1 - 0 at half time but Hungerford were on top,

The next goal you felt was vital at 2 -0 Hungerford would have probably romped to 3 or 4 goal win but Greenwich were to have the next say. A free kick on the edge of the box conceeded by Mayo was converted past Dominic Green who didn't seem to line his wall up properly. In true Hungerford goalkeeping tradition he seemed to stand behind the wall leaving one side of the goal exposed.

This buoyed Greenwich and they gave Hungerford a "meantime" for 10 minutes or so, hitting the underside of the bar with their next chance. Clark replaced the free kick conceeder Mayo with the 100mph Brewer much to the delight of more regluar supporters, this game and Hungerford needed Brewer at that time.

Ian Concannon then hit Greenwich's bar when it looked easier to score from 6 yards out. Conners is desperate for a goal, you feel if he gets one he'll get three in quick succession alas this was not his day though.

Hungerford huffed and puffed looking for an opening the majority of the play coming through Gosling and Edney on the left. Then Edney scored a wonder goal, a 1 - 2 with Gosling was powered into the net by Edders from a sharp angle, although all I personally saw was sunlight and Austin again jumping into the crowd!

2 -1 to hungerford then surely we'd push on... No instead let's sit back and try to hold out. To be fair we nearly did that but instead of 3 minutes injury time we played 5 (I've also been there before on a Hungerford cup run) and Greenwich pumped a high ball into the box and caught Hungerford sleeping to equalise.

Extra time was dominated by Hungerford who forced 12 corners but only crerated 1 clear chance when Fitch saw his header well saved by the Borough keeper. Hungerford did deserve to win but only have themselves to blame for not doing so.

Team

Dominic - Didn't cover himeself in glory with the first goal, his handling was great though.

Copp - The only bonus I can see from the current formation is Copp at sweeper. He reads the game brilliantly. Hopefully he will stick around

Mayo - Gives away far too many free kicks when there is no need to do so,

Toby - Not his best game although lack of movemnet on the flanks hindered him, he often had to look for Gosling who was the only player showing.

Macca N - Solid and dependable centre back, lots of unnoticed work

Bedders - Needed to raise the team a bit more as Captain,

Edders - What a pleasing result a winner from Edney would have been for all his hard work, showing what he can do in a more attacking role

Charlie - Gave everything to the cause and a popular goalscorer

Gosser - Tightly marked but still managed a few magic moments

Conners - So close to that predidicted hat trick but so far, He'll score 3 in the replay perhaps

Fitch - One great cross from which Conners nearly scored, He scares me at wing back though!

SUBS

Brewer - Added energy at a time we needed it, surely a starter again soon

Guy - Worked hard but probably wasn't expecting extra time

CROWD  - 374 and a healthly 350+ home support!

Hungerford moved back to 4th in the Hellenic League table with a hard fought victory over a well organised Bicester side.

Despite a bright opening Hungerford failed to scored in the first 15 minutes and Bicester found themselves able to cope with most of what Hungerford threw at them, indeed Hungerford were restricted to long range shots and near misses.

Paul Bedwell went on a surging run from centre back and it took a good block from the Bicester centre back to deny him a wonder goal.

It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock and up stepped Jamie Gosling with a great turn and shot into the far corner. This was really the only notable moment during the first half.

Hungerford did play better in the second half and controlled the game, the second goal came via Gosling again who's cross was headed in by Austin.

Adam Mayo hit the post late on and Ian Concannon saw a shot defelcted wide after he was set in the clear by a mazy Gosling run.

It was one of those get the three points in the bag and the fixture under the belt kind of night and it was mission succesful for Hungerford

Team

Dominic - Hard hardley anything to do except a save from a first half free kick

Copp - Part of the solid trio at the back

Mayo - Works hard and was strong in the tackle

Tobs - found it hard to find the killer pass but may be due to the lack of width

Macca - made some good blocks

Bedders - a great run in the first half, solid at the back and a threat in the box too

Edders - showed with one second half cross what he can do in an attacking role, but he's a wingback!

Chaz - Scored his goal well, worked hard but left 15 mins into the second half

Gosser - a man of the match performance, Bicester defence must have felt like they were in an episode of dancing on ice!

Conners - Put in a lot of effort and you feel if he gets one goal he;ll get three

Fitch - did not show much going forward, maybe the curse of the wingback a'la edders

Subs

Ritchie - he is a promising player and it show with his second half display.

Joner & Macca - unused

Attendance - 81

Hungerford struggled to get going for long periods of the game just 3 days after the energy sapping FA Vase tie but in the end secured another valuable 3 points against a hard working Highworth side.

Clean cut chances were at a premium as Hungerford attacked up the slope in the first half towards thier favourite goal. Top scorer Ian Concannon had been reseted in favour of the soon to be suspended for nine games Shaun Terry who partnered Charlie Austin up front. It was Austin who came closest to breaking the dead lock early when he lift the ball over Highworth's on rushing keeper but it was cleared just before it reached the line. Austin seem to have been taken out late but to be fair to the referee he had to rely on his linesman who saw nothing, or nothing wrong with the challenge.

Hungerford huffed and puffed and whilst they did not look like conceeding they did not threaten much either until Mayo found a through ball to Gosling who rocketted a shot into the top corner past a helpless goal keeper. It was 1 - 0 at half time and that was probably the right score.

Highworth equalised early in the 2nd half after Hungerford gave away a needless corner. It was a scrappy goal scored due to the determination of Highworth to get into the game.

We then went through a period  of scrappy play form Hungerford chances did come most noteably when Bedwell forced a save from Highworth's keeper and Gosling flashed a shot wide when he really should have scored.

Going into the last 10 minutes it looked like a dissapointing draw, cue then the Shaun Terry show, his cross from the left found Fitch who calmly took the headed chance to put Hungerford 2 - 1 up, Highworth let thier heads drop and two quick but late goals from Terry boosted the scoreline.

3 points in the bag and another game under the belt for Hungerford.

Team

Dominic - Did not have much to do, cant be faulted for the goal

Copp - Looks a great addition to the starting XI

Joner - worked hard and will be please to get 90 mins under his belt.

Tobs - Held the midfield together well always keeps the ball moving

Macca N - Went off early in the 2nd half, hopefully nothing major

Bedder - His usual cool assured self.

Tarrick - Showed both sides of his game good and bad.

Chaz - Didn't reach the heights of Saturday but made a nuiscence of himself.

Gosser - A brilliant goal and the miss in the second half aside a great game.

Mayo - Set up the first goal and worked hard.

Fitch - Seems to be lost at wing back, good finish though

SUBS

Macca M - came on for Nick vey solid

Ritchie - faultless last 10 seconds

Conners - Didn't get on

Crowd - back to a low 60 odd - seemed to double at 8:20 wonder why?

Hungerford got what they deserved on saturday and that was aplace in the 5th round of the FA Vase. hungerford dominated large spells of the game but their inabilty to finsh of chances always left Boston in the game and the did look dangerous on the break.

In the first half Austin, Concannon, Edney all went close to breaking the deadlock but it was only Concannon who forced a save out of the Boston goal keeper.

the talking point of the half was the penalty right at the death awarded to Boston and really hungerford had no arguements as Boston striker Bull was upended in the box. Bull took the spot kick himself rather over confidently and smashed the ball against the post, dominic green guess the right way also.

The second half continued in much the same vain as the first Gosling providing problems down the wings for Boston but again chances went begging for Concannon, heading over from Austin's cross then again forcing a superb save out of the Boston keeper, Mayo who shot wide when the goal was gapping, fitch whose header flashed past the post from a corner and terry whose shot come cross was just tipped over by the keeper.

As we went into the final minutes extra time seemed likely but it was not to be as Terry's cross was somehow put into his own goal by boston's centre back under pressure from Austin. Cue Hungerford wild celebrations with the team jumping all over Clark and Moloney on the bench and Austin diving into the crowd.

Hungerford await the draw on Monday...

Team

Dominic - Did superbly well with crosses in tricky conditions his kicking was solid too 

Copp - Looked at eas in the sweeper role a decent new signing

Mayo - A busy player who looked to create chances and worked box to box

Tobs - Lots of unsceen work Hungerford are a much better team with him in it

McCrae - dealt with the strikers well 

Bedders - A captains performance adds calm to the defence instead of panic

edders - Should have scored in the first half but his work ethic is great.

Chaz - will just scrape the MOM in a great team performance, reminded older supports of a certain F Austin in his heyday.

Gosser - his best game for weeks the Boston full backs will be having nightmares.

Conners - On another day he would have scored three, not his best day at the office but perhaps saving it up for round 5!

Fitch - Worked hard at wing back which is probably not his favourite role.

Subs

Tarrick - added pace when coming on for conners late on. nearly scored a couple in the last 10. Suspension will ruin his season though.

Ritchie - Only got on for two mins at the end, will learn a lot from being involved.

Brewer - Was ruled out of the starting lineup through injury. fortunatly for Boston!

Macca M - Didn't get on shows the depth of the squad.

Joner - We are saving his wonder goals for the league, just back from injury.

 

Crowd - 207 and a healthy home support - hopefully we can make it 4 three figured crowds in a row on Tuesday!

What a rough and tough game that was. Hungerford were without the suspended duo of Luke Brewer and Toby Clark, you'll remember Toby was missing for that menacing stare at the referee! Jim Smith returned though in a surprising defensive midfield role.
The wing back system was deployed again not the most popular system in my book but with the squad available we were a bit limited. The game throughout was a bit something of nothing with neither side looking that great going forward. Hungerford seemed to be trying a long ball tactic with Fitch trying to flick on to Concannon, Edney and Terry struggling to get forward for wing back.
To be honest the tactic in central midfield did work but often Jim Smith was the free man as opposed to the tightly marked Gosling or the hard working Mills and jim's distribution is not his strong point.
Badshot scored with a great drive into the far post that gave Dominic Green no chance, Badshot exposing the wing back system with a 4 - 5 - 1 formation that enabled them to double up particularly on Shaun Terry. Hungerford hit back straight away with Terry finally getting around the back and Mills driving the ball home for a quick equaliser. Then the game went back to where it started. Edney produced two good saves from the Lea keeper but Concannon was struggling to get any space or chances.
In the second half Austin came on for Smith, meaning Fitch had to drop back into midfield this did create a fluster in the Lea defence as Austin ruffled a few feathers. It was Fitch though who came close to breaking the deadlock with a header just wide from a corner.
Cus the last frantic five minutes, Terry found some space down the left and drove the ball past the Lea Keeper intot he far corner for the winning goal. Two minutes later though the referee sent Terry off for a dangerous two footed challenge. This split the crowd as many though it was a two footed challenge. From my view he did slide in a bit late but contacted more with the ball than any player also nothing was done about the Lea defenders trying to adminsiter their own justice when hads were raised, a yellow a piece would have sufficed, especially as you see far more dangerous challenges going unpunished.
Hungerford just squeeked this one, we need to raise out game though with a tricky game away a Shrivenham and the Boston game coming up.

TEAM

DOMINIC - Great save early in the second half was a turning point, had no chance with goal
MACCA M - Did well at sweeper
JIM BOB - Worked hard but out of position in midfield.
MILLSY - Great game in central midfield deserve his goal
MACCA N - His usual solid display
BEDDERS - A solid captains performance
TARRICK - Frustrating Tarrick, can be very good or very bad, Jury still out on the red card.
EDDERS - Are his best attributes being used at right wing back? Please come forward!
GOSSER - Tightly marked and everytime he touch it the call was "whack him"
CONNERS - Stuggled to get into the game
FITCHY - Worked hard nearly scored but still better on the right (how about swapping Edney and Fitch?)

SUBS
CHARLIE - Not 100% fit but ruffled some feathers and made some new friends!

ATTENDANCE - 100 three figures again but will they keep the support up?