After lots of begging and bribery work behind the scenes , we eventually
got a game organised against Oxford.


There was no need for a warm up as the 20 mins walk to the pitch had
loosened any cobwebs that might have been before!! The pitch itself
could best be described as cow field, not conducive to the free flowing
football that had seen ASB run out easy winners in their last game. In
fact, Zack managed to hide in the long grass for the whole of the first
half!



The Sun was beating down and there was a feeling that it was going to be
a long day ahead. Given that ASB had a squad of 13 players and a
complete change from the 11 that started the last game 4 weeks earlier
it was always going to take ASB a while to get into their stride.



Rob



Zack Orv Tina Frangi



Kev Tim Ken Slouch



Nick Markus



Subs: Crouch and Keir



Given that it'd been 4 weeks since the last game ASB (as ever) started
the game slowly and the long grass wasn't helping the passing game. It
was obvious from the start that Oxford had a few decent players and they
constructed some good moves down the right hand side that got the back
4, especially Tina and Orv on their toes.



ASB huffed and puffed but couldn't sustain or get behind the Oxford
Rearguard in the opening 15 mins. The problem was that the ball wasn't
sticking up top and that left the midfield support exposed when ASB
surrendered possession continuously! 



Oxford got their reward for a decent start in the 20th min when they
broke down another ASB attack and countered with a ball forward that
Tina misjudged and allowed their right winger to have a 2 on 1 with Orv
at the back which was duly dispatched by their left winger after a cross
to the back post. Zack blaming the grass for his Missing in Action
effort!



In fairness this was the kick up the arse that the team needed and Ken
started to get control of things in midfield and sprayed a few lovely
passes to the wings with Kev and Slouch getting behind the back 4 and
creating chances. Kev missed a glorious chance blazing over after good
work by Tim, Nick and slouch down the left. 



The pressure was beginning to tell on Oxford and only a few last ditch
tackles and interceptions were keeping ASB out. The breakthrough came
again through some neat interplay between Zack and Ken on the right hand
side, which was stopped by a fairly crude challenge on Zack. Orv stepped
up and played a clever pass into Kendrick who jinked inside a Oxford
defender and fired a left foot shot (via a deflection) into the top
corner.



Oxford remained dangerous on the break and Rob had a few moments
including one where he missed the ball and the man on a breakaway, but
in general the defence were untroubled and coped with all that was
thrown at them. ASB grew stronger towards the end of the first half, but
the killer ball and touch was lacking as Nick and Markus struggled to
impose themselves. Kendrick was totally dominating midfield at this
stage and was looking a class above the others on the park.



Halftime arrived and the score was 1-1. Inga had some interesting
choices to make as the match at this point could have gone either way.
Not a man to mess about having made 7 changes at halftime in the last
game, Inga again showed why he is known as the Jose Mourinho of the
league. Crouch came on for Zack and slotted into midfield and Tim
switched to right back. The master tactician was at it again (He
promptly installed himself as the ref as well, given that Oxford's coach
had reffed the first half!). Despite Zacks MOM performance in the first
half of the Hampton and Richmond game (His own words! And their
manager's apparently) he was sacrificed for the greater good of the
team.



Inga's changes had an almost immediate effect Kendrick pushed further
forward allowing Crouch to sit and protect him as he probed forward and
this pushed the team 20 yards further up the pitch. For the first time
in the game ASB began to create sustained pressure and won the ball back
in the Oxford half of the field. Nick and Markus missed some gilt edge
chances, but you could sense a goal was coming for ASB. It duly arrived
10 mins into the second half. A smart move between Nick and Slouch saw
the latter scythed down in the box for a penalty. A clear penalty!
Despite initial debate as to who should hit it, Kendrick stepped up to
the plate. No chance of a John Terry, Kendrick smashed it past the
Oxford keeper into the roof of the net.



ASB had some chances to extend the lead after this, but with the
forwards becoming increasingly frustrated, it became clear that the one
goal lead might not be enough. Oxford began to come back into the game
with some neat football through midfield. Then came the controversial
moment of the game.

Oxford's tricky left winger broke into ASB's box and
was tripped up by Tim, whose classic hands up gesture indicated that
contact had been made. Inga waved play on, must to Oxford's annoyance.
ASB had got off lightly, but in fairness to Inga, Tim's acting was
convincing and it was a crowded box. Inga later admitted that he was
unsighted.



The game ebbed and flowed after that with chances for both sides, but
the game turned when a lovely through ball by Slouch was latched onto by
Kev who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. This made the
game safe for ASB and Inga immediately subbed Kev (as punishment!) for
Keir.



ASB pushed forward for more goals, especially Kendrick who was now on a
Hat-Trick, but some wastefulness and lack of composure saw the chances
go a begging. Oxford were handed a lifeline with 15 mins left when they
were awarded a penalty following a challenge by Orv on the Oxford
striker at the edge of the box. It was a 50/50 decision with Orv
claiming to have got the ball, but given the previous incident it was
probably a fair one. In any event it was hit wide and any chance Oxford
had of getting back into the game had gone. Rob did manage to produce a
top drawer save from the Oxford no 8 (a star performer on their side),
but Orv, Tina, Frangi and Tim stemmed most efforts with ease.



The match was played out with Kendrick strolling around midfield,
continuing to dominate and looking like he was playing with kids at
times. By far the man of the match and his 2 goals were the difference
between the sides. Nick and Markus continued to make and miss chances
with Keir looking again fresh on his comeback trail.


The game drew to a close without any further incidents of note and
Inga's whistle ended the match at 3-1 (plus Frangi's misery and allowed
him to wipe his mouth at last!), a much improved ASB second half
performance the difference. 



The result meant that ASB have a great chance of making the playoffs.

Kevin