Didcot Casuals v. Crowmarsh Youth FC – Sunday 18th October Crowmarsh went into this game hoping to consolidate their place at the top of the league, achieved in their win over Harwell & Hendred the previous week.

They started off in confident mood, with 2 attacks in the first three minutes, and only defiant goalkeeping prevented them taking the lead. Didcot responded immediately with an attack of their own, down the left, but thankfully for Crowmarsh the shot went just wide.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 5th minute when Ed Seares won the ball and passed it to Sam Beaumont, who had a simple tap in to make it 1-0. Sam was in the right place at the right time 6 minutes later when a goal-kick landed straight at this feet, he knocked it forward before striking a shot past the Didcot keeper to give Crowmarsh a 2-0 lead.

Crowmarsh were on a roll now and two minutes later Will Baker played a lovely ball through to Ed Seares who placed a lovely shot just inside the far post, 3-0 and the team were playing some great football. They could have increased their tally a minute later when, following great determination, Matthew Stirling won the ball and teed it up for Dylan Harrison who let fly with his left foot, only to see the keeper make another great save.

In the 16th minute Didcot broke through a strong Crowmarsh defence then, as the forward raced through on goal, the keeper went down at his feet. The ball rolled out but the forward was sent sprawling and there were a few tense moments amongst the Crowmarsh contingent until the referee pointed to the corner flag.

A minute later Crowmarsh were awarded a throw-in and up stepped throw-in specialist Hugh Streets to deliver the ball to Kai Thomas, who knocked the ball over the keeper to make it 4-0 to Crowmarsh. This was followed 2 minutes later with another break by Sam Beaumont who raced through and slid it past the keeper to make it 5-0.

Undeterred, Didcot fought back and got their reward in the 25th minute when an excellent shot from the right was saved by the Crowmarsh goalie but Matty Brown followed in to put the ball over the line and reduce the deficit to 5-1.

Crowmarsh responded to this within a minute, with what turned out to be the best move of the game. A flowing, passing move involving five players ended with the ball being played through Kai Thomas who knocked the ball into the net to regain his side’s 5 goal advantage. This was increased in the 30th minute when, yet again, Sam Beaumont broke down the left-hand side before placing the ball past the goalie and just inside the far post, 7-1 to Crowmarsh.

The final action of the half saw a great run by Kai Thomas deliver the ball to Matthew Stirling who controlled the ball and knocked it past the defender, only to see his shot well saved by the keeper. Crowmarsh went into the break good value for their 7-1 lead. The second half began with Didcot applying the pressure and most of the early attacks came from them. In the 38th minute only a great clearance by Sam Hazell, and in the 40th a brave save by Lewis Ward dropping at the forward’s feet, prevented Didcot from scoring. This pressure finally paid off for Didcot in the 46th minute when a powerful long range shot from Joe Marriot flew into the Crowmarsh goal to bring the score back to 7-2.

As in the first-half, Crowmarsh responded a minute later when Sam Beaumont broke through and lofted the ball gently over the keeper to make the score 8-2 to Crowmarsh. Full credit must go to the Didcot lads who didn’t let their heads drop and, in the 60th minute, a great strike from the edge of the box by Jack Cooper looked certain to make the net ripple until Lewis Ward managed to push it onto the post. There was nothing Lewis could do 2 minutes into added time though, when a winding solo run and great finish by Didcot’s Joe Halsey reduced the score to 8-3.

Crowmarsh still had time for one more attack, with a great cross from the right being hit goalwards by Haydn Whitehouse-Lloyd, only for him to see the ball agonisingly roll inches the wrong side of the post.

The game ended 8-3 in Crowmarsh’s favour and was a fair result, but Didcot’s effort and never-say-die attitude meant Crowmarsh had to work hard for their win. Well done to both teams.