Results 2005/06

Playing their first ever game as a level Four club, Hanwell Town recorded an excellent 2-0 win over Winchester City. Winchester who won the FA Vase in the 2003/04 season and who had won the Wessex league last season by thirteen points started the game in tremendous fashion and in the opening fifteen minutes were rarely out of Town's half and had they scored in this period, it is likely that the result would have been a lot different. That Town survived was due to some excellent defensive play by the back four coupled with the assured keeping of Simon Pratt.

Town took the lead completely against the run of play in the sixteenth minute. Some good link up play down the right gave Victor Osobu the opportunity to drive the ball across the face of the Winchester goal. The Winchester right back Dan Wakefield was adjudged to have handled the ball as it bounced up off the slippery surface and referee Warren Atkin,who had an excellent game, had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Keith Rowlands, making his first appearance in the side since late December last year made no mistake from the spot., striking the ball firmly past Dave Hook in the Winchester goal. Almost immediately, a fine save at the other end by Simon prevented Winchester from equalising as he turned Ian Mancey's fierce drive over the bar. As the game progressed, Town began to enjoy a greater proportion of the play and the Winchester defence became more and more pressed to cope with the movement and speed of Town's front runners. Hook was called into action to block Victor Asombang's shot from an acute angle after Keith had set Victor up before Town went further ahead in the thirty seventh minute with a real quality goal. Again Keith and Victor linked up down the right before Victor delivered a low ball towards the far post. Mark Sroka cutting in rounded Wakefield before driving the ball goalwards where Hook did very well to turn the ball onto the crossbar but the ball rebounded out to Keith who scored with a terrific overhead kick into the top corner.

On the stroke of half time, Winchester should have reduced the deficit, Pete Smith turning the ball wide on the far post with the goal at his mercy. Whilst Winchester enjoyed more of the play in the second half, they seemed to quickly run out of attacking ideas and other than a cross shot by Jamie Mussellwhite which flew just wide of the far post, Simon was relatively untroubled, such was the quality of the defensive play in front of him where Sean Hillier, Dean Harper, Warren Clarke and the man of the match Sean James had excellent games, whilst in front of them Chris Mills and Daley Joseph worked tirelessly throughout.

With a very strong wind blowing straight down the pitch, Town found themselves playing into the wind in the first half but enjoyed the greater amount of possession in the opening stages and might have taken the lead as early as the fifth minute when Jason Tucker volleyed Chris Mills's corner kick over the bar. At the other end, Simon made a fine save to turn Richard Smith's wind assisted shot from twenty five yards aside. We took the lead in the 14th minute, thanks to a tremendous individual goal by Keith Rowlands. Receiving the ball just inside his own half, Keith set off on a run that took him past four defenders before unleashing a terrific shot that left Reece Kirk in the Buckingham goal helpless. Chris should have made it two minutes later when a fine interchange of passes with Keith gave him a clear opportunity but he scuffed his shot and Kirk saved. Buckingham then missed a great chance to equalise when Simon misjudged a cross and as the ball fell from his grasp, Ruben Max-Grant had a simple chance to score but he somehow managed to loft the ball over the empty net. We continued to look the more likely side to score up until the interval with Daley Joseph heading Charlie Baverstock's cross just wide and then Kirk saved well from Ricky Pither twice in quick succession. During this period, we were grateful for new signing Jason O'Connor's header clear from our goal line with Simon beaten.

At the interval we were forced to replace the injured Warren Clarke with Ashley Herbert. Buckingham equalised two minutes into the second half when the ball was cleared from our corner kick and Marcus Sawyer outstripped Ashley and as Simon advanced he squared the ball into the path of Smith who had a simple chance to fire it into the empty net. Play was now very even and we made our second substitution with Victor Osobu replacing Baverstock, before we regained the lead when Kirk made a brilliant save from Keith's shot but was left helpless as Chris drove the loose ball back into the roof of the net. Chris then missed a good chance to put us two ahead when he fired over after Victor had pulled the ball back into his path from the by-line. With just nine minutes remaining, Buckingham equalised in almost identical fashion to their opening goal. Victor gave the ball away at our corner kick, Sawyer broke clear on the left and this time it was Max-Grant applying the final touch as the ball was squared into our goalmouth.

In direct contrast to the opening fifteen minutes at Marlow, we began the game in fine fashion with Mark Sroka prominent on the left flank as we produced some nice football on the excellent playing surface. It was, therefore, against the run of play when Bracknell took the lead in virtually their first attack of the game. From a driven right wing corner by Matthew Ruffles, the 6ft 4" James Joyce headed the ball goalwards and Mark Anderson volleyed the ball past a helpless Simon. Two minutes later, Bracknell almost went two ahead when from another fierce cross by Ruffles, Gary Sargeant's header went just wide of Simon's far post. We should have equalised on the half hour mark when Keith Rowlands got in front of Bracknell's two central defenders but as Paul McCarthy in the Bracknell goal advanced to narrow the angle, Keith lifted the ball over his head but also over the bar of the unattended net.

However, Keith was to make no mistake in the opening minute of the second half. On receiving the ball from Chris Mills, he turned sharply to feed the ball into the path of Mark who raced around his marking defender, Kris Day, before pulling the ball back across the goalmouth where Keith following up scored from close range. The game suffered a scare shortly after when Bracknell's Ian Baker appeared to collapse in the centre circle and had to be stretchered off. Fortunately, he recovered quite quickly in the dressing room.

As both sides went in search of the winner, play switched from end to end but without either keeper being seriously troubled. The closest that Bracknell came to scoring in this period being when Neil Baker swept a cross from the right just over our bar whilst at the other end, McCarthy dived to his right to save Dean Harper's header from Chris's corner. As the minutes ticked away with both sides using all three of their substitutes, Bracknell won a series of free kicks and corners and the ball was lifted in our goalmouth, aimed at the head of Joyce, but Dean and Warren Clarke stood firm until the final whistle with a draw probably being the fairest result on the night. A special word for Naz Richardson who had a fine debut in the centre of our mid-field.

We made a great start to the game with a couple of tremendous runs down the left by Mark Sroka. From the second of these, Charley Baverstock rounded the Taunton keeper but his intended pass to Keith Rowlands was intercepted. However, we took the lead in the 6th minute when a perfectly weighted through ball by Chris Mills set Charley free again. On this occasion his pass did find Keith who played it across goal for new signing Christian Metcalfe to celebrate his debut by scoring from close range. We went two ahead minutes later when another good ball by Chris gave Charley to opportunity to steer the ball past Ian Jones in the Taunton goal. We suffered a blow ten minutes later when Dean Harper was adjudged to have handled the ball in our box and Steve Cook made no mistake from the spot . We continued to be the better side and Naz Richardson was unlucky not to put us further ahead when his fierce header from Chris's corner kick thundered against the underside of the cross bar before it was hacked to safety. Seven minutes from the interval, another of Chris's corners led to our third goal, the ball bobbling about in their goal area before Charley was able to apply the finishing touch.

As was to be expected, Taunton came out for the second half in determined fashion and reduced the deficit after just five minutes of the half when a cross from the right was only headed clear to the edge of our penalty area where Ryan Havard volleyed the ball home, wide of the unsighted Simon in our goal. Worse was to follow as poor marking from a Taunton free kick allowed Wiltshire to play the ball to Charlie Welch who had the time and space to transfer the ball onto his favoured left foot before beating Simon at his near post with a low drive. The game swung in our favour with seventeen minutes remaining when Taunton's Neil Ward was sent off for punching Keith and we began to apply constant pressure onto the Taunton goal, only for the almost inevitable to happen with five minutes remaining when Taunton broke away and Cook played the ball into the path of Sonyo Da Mata who made no mistake as Simon advanced from his goal. With virtually the last kick of the game, Christian volleyed the ball goal wards, only to see Jones make a tremendous save to deny us what would have been a deserved point at the very least.

After our excellent performance the previous Saturday against Taunton Town, we travelled to Abingdon United in good heart and hopeful that we could at least grab our first away point of the season. Unfortunately, our hopes were quickly dispelled, firstly due to a nightmare journey caused by major roadworks and then by conceding a dreadfully soft goal just three minutes after kick off. Antony Rowlands, ignoring both Christian Metcalfe and Chris Mills calling for a simple square pass hoisted an aimless ball forward straight into the arms of the Abingdon keeper Simon Tricker. He immediately threw the ball forward to Ryan Curtin on the left who in turn found Anaclet Odhiambo and when the ball was turned into the middle, Mark Simms was left with only Simon Pratt to beat and the Abingdon striker made no mistake. We fought back strongly and Mark Sroka almost carved out our equaliser when he cut in from the left before pulling the ball across the goalmouth where it just avoided the lunging feet of Keith Rowlands. Naz Richardson then fired a shot just wide of the post from long range. Abingdon should have increased their lead, when once again our defence was by-passed and Odhiambo was right through with only Simon to beat but fortunately for us he pulled his shot wide. On the half hour mark we almost equalised when another run and cross by Mark saw the ball reach Keith this time but James Organ saved the situation for Abingdon, clearing Keith's shot from the line with Tricker beaten. Odhiambo then wasted another chance for Abingdon, firing just wide after a clever turn on the edge of our penalty area.

At half time, we made a tactical switch, Warren Clarke moving into the centre of defence with Jason Tucker moving to full back but we immediately found ourselves on the defensive, firstly when Keith gave the ball away as we were attacking and it quickly transferred to the other end where Jermaine Ferreira was off target from close range but worse was to follow as Ferreira was left free again with a clear opportunity. Simon did well to block his first effort and his second shot was headed away by Dean Harper, but only to the feet of Simms who beat Simon with a left foot volley into the top corner. Abingdon then missed several good opportunities to go further ahead as we were completely over run in midfield, despite the efforts of Naz and Christian Metcalfe who were constantly out numbered in this crucial area of the pitch. We almost pulled a goal back when Tricker made an excellent save from Keith after Chris Mills's quick free kick had set him up before we made three substitutions in quick succession with twenty minutes remaining. One of these paid off when good work by Naz resulted in a cross to the far post which was headed home by Victor Osobu, but it was too little too late.

As if mindful of our recent trait of conceding goals in the opening minutes, we made a solid start to the game, despite an early scare when Simon misjudged the bounce of the ball and it looped over his head giving Burnham's Alex Gibson a half chance, but from a very narrow angle Gibson was only able to turn the ball across the face of our goal and we survived. We took the lead in the 20th minute when Chris Mills tried a speculative shot with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area and the ball went across the Burnham keeper Jamie Jackson to find the far corner. Five minutes later we appeared to be fortunate that Burnham did not equalise when Simon dropped a firm header on the slippery surface and the ball was prodded back past him into our net, but the assistant referee's flag was up and the goal was disallowed. However, we were less fortunate five minutes later when a good passing movement between Gibson and Jeff Brown created a chance for Rob Saunders and he made no mistake calmly lifting the ball over the advancing keeper into our net. We more than held our own until the interval and Russell Mundy should have done better than to volley the ball straight at Jackson when a cross from Chris found him unmarked on the far post. Burnham took the lead in the 63rd minute when, not the first time this season,we failed to defend properly when a long free kick was directed into our box and when the ball was headed back into the goalmouth, Brown was able to flick it over Simon into our net. This goal had an obvious adverse effect on us and Burnham began to dominate the game. Gibson was unlucky with a shot which hit the post with Simon beaten. Our attacks at the other end were becoming rarer and rarer, with Jackson rarely troubled as he comfortably saved from Sean James, who was by a clear distance our best player on the night. Our fate was sealed with fifteen minutes to go when from a throw in deep inside the Burnham half, we allowed the ball to reach Saunders just inside his own half and he set off on a mazy run that was virtually unchallenged and culminated in him rounding Simon and rolling the ball into our empty net. When the final whistle went, we were left to contemplate yet another defeat whilst Burnham's skipper Paul Brett was able to celebrate his 600th appearance for his club, a terrific effort.

Naz Richardson, whose surging runs into the Rugby penalty area was one of the features of the game was fouled by Tom Breward as he raced into the box and Keith Rowlands made no mistake from the resultant penalty kick, driving the ball unerringly past Farhad Afandiyev, a former Azerbaijan under 21 international in the Rugby goal. Keith almost doubled our lead minutes later when he fired just over the bar with Afandiyev beaten. We continued to be the better side either side of the interval with the hard working Charley Baverstock a constant thorn in the sides of the Rugby defence.

Rugby's leading scorer Jason Thomas notched his tenth goal of the season as he beat Simon Pratt from the spot. Rugby threw everything into the final period as they strove for the equaliser but Jason and Warren were immense at the heart of our defence, ably supported by Sean James, and on the one occasion that Rugby did get through, Simon made a very brave save at the feet of Taylor to ensure that we reached the second qualifying round where we will meet Cirencester Town, another side from the Premier Division of The British Gas Southern League, at home on November 4th.

From the kick off, before a Bashley player had touched the ball, Chris Mills was forcing their keeper David Elm to turn his cross shot over the bar and this triggered off an opening twenty minute spell with goalmouth action at both ends. Richard Gillespie headed wide when well placed for Bashley and this was quickly followed by a fierce drive by Bashley's 'man of the match' Dave Wakefield which flew just wide of Simon's far post. There was just as much play at the other end where Mark Sroka was causing problems every time that he received the ball, giving full back Paul Gazzard a torrid time. Following one of his runs, Chris volleyed over when well placed and Elm then made a tremendous save to keep out Keith's close range header after Mark's great cross to the far post. Simon saved well from Gillespie and we then had a lucky escape when Chris Knowles's shot from close range hit the underside of our bar before the ball was hooked to safety. Simon then made a brave save at Knowles's feet before unfortunately with two minutes to go to the interval, he misjudged a punch clear from Chris Ferrett's in swinging corner kick and Josh Thomas hooked the loose ball back into our unattended net.

In the opening period of the second half, we took the game to Bashley but without really being able to test Elm. Chris shot over after another good run by Mark, Naz Richardson's long range effort went just wide and then a great run by Sean James set up Mark to drill the ball low across the Bashley goal area but there was nobody on hand to apply the finishing touch. Having survived this opening period, Bashley began to have much more of the game as they made their physical presence felt and we came under great pressure at the back and it was no great surprise when they increased their lead in the sixty seventh minute when Ryan Moss headed home Craig Davis's free kick. We then missed a golden opportunity to get ourselves back into the game when a neat interchange between Chris and Mark, resulted in Chris crossing to the far post where Keith completely missed his header with only Elm to beat. Wakefield then missed almost as good a chance at the other end before with six minutes to go, Jason was rather harshly adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of our box and Kellett sent the resultant free kick over our defensive wall into the top

We were given the perfect start to the game in the 3rd minute when from a Mark Sroka cross, Cirencester's Lee Molyneaux handled in the box and Chris Mills confidently fired the resultant spot kick past Kevin Sawyer. Cirencester drew level in the 10th minute, Scott Griffin also scoring from the spot, when after Naz Richardson had given the ball away, Griffin turned the ball into the path of Liam Horsted who appeared to be in an offside position before he was brought down from behind by Sean James. Shortly after Horsted limped off to be replaced by Michael Symons, who's physical presence and ability on the ball caused us problems throughout. Cirencester gained the upper hand after their equaliser and after a fierce cross from the right was deflected over our bar by Dean Harper, we fell behind when from the resultant corner taken by Michael Jackson, Marc Richards who was totally unmarked headed home from close range. Shortly after, Simon made a brave save from Richards at point blank range and the half ended with Griffin firing the ball just wide of our far post with Simon stranded.

We equalised three minutes into the second half when a searching ball forward by Sean found Charley Baverstock who was goal side of his marking defender Steve Leigh. Charley brushed Leigh aside before cutting in to shoot at goal. Sawyer made a fine save from the initial effort but was left helpless as Charley fired home the rebound. This goal proved to be just the fillip we needed and after Naz had fired just over the bar we were desperately unlucky not to take the lead when Chris's free kick hit the inside of the post, go right across the goal to hit the other post before the ball was scrambled clear. In at this stage a rare excursion to the other end, Molyneaux drove a fierce shot over our bar but we looked the more likely side to score with Mark Sroka making run after run down the left flank. From one of these, Dean Thomas just failed to make contact with Mark's low ball across the face of the goal and then Warren Clarke's pass sent Mark right through with only Sawyer to beat but he steered the ball wide of the far post. Cirencester substitute Lee Smith was as dangerous as Mark going forward at the other end and after Richards had volleyed one of his crosses just wide, Simon made a great save at point blank range from Symons after another Smith run and cross. We almost knew it was not to be our day when Thomas crashed the ball against the underside of the Cirencester crossbar and Naz shot wide from the rebound and our fears were realised in the final minute when from another Jackson corner, Richards's header crept inside the far post.

A cup tie that began in true cup tradition with a chance at each end. Lee McManus broke clear on the left rounded the full back and laid a ball back that Victor Osobu scuffed into the arms of Jon Ashwood, the Uxbridge Keeper. From the resulting throw out the ball broke in the midfield to James Pritchard who was allowed to run and let fly with a shot that needed Paul Taylor in goal to see it over the bar. The game settled into a pattern of Hanwell probing the flanks and Uxbridge countering on the break. In the 22 minute a Hanwell attack broke down on the edge of the box and three passes later Taylor was being called upon again to clear the danger. James Pritchard for Uxbridge broke the deadlock when Hanwell failed to clear the ball and it fell to Danny Yeoman on the right whose perfect cross was met and dispatched giving Taylor no chance. Harper was booked for his protestations to the referee. Dean Thomas should have equalised eight minutes later when he headed another cross from McManus wide of the goal. Parity was restored a minute later when Adam Jaso latched on to a defensive mix up and shot firmly past Ashwood. Russell Munday was replaced by Ashley Herbert in the 39 minute after coming of the worst in a hefty challenge. The last real chance of the half fell to the Uxbridge scorer Pritchard again who forced wide by O'Connell failed to find the target.

The second half saw Hanwell pressing and forcing a series of corners on the left side, a McManus shot forcing a save into the side netting. Good interplay between Hillyer and McManus forced a further save from a Thomas effort. The whipped in corners by Hillyer troubled the Uxbridge defence who took a few minutes to fully clear their lines. Dean Peltohaka for Uxbridge reminded Hanwell of their ability on the break as he shot wide shortly before being replaced. On the 60 minute Harper caught Hill from behind, on the edge of the Hanwell box fortunately resulting in no more than a stern talking to from the ref. How such events affect results. A minute later the industrious Naz Richardson collected the ball on the halfway line and pushed forward, the ball sitting up perfectly for a speculative shot at goal that found the top right hand corner giving Ashwood no chance. This stirred the away side who played more directly forcing a series of free kicks in and around the Hanwell penalty area. Fortunately, all were too high or wide of the mark and Taylor only had one to deal with which was straight into his arms. Three minutes from time Uxbridge should have earned a draw as Pritchard saw his firm header strike and go over the bar with Taylor beaten. Herbert made a fine interception to a goalward shot a minute later before the ball was cleared downfield as the last few minutes were seen out by Hanwell for the win. Hayes in the next round

We are now in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom of the League after suffering our eleventh League defeat of the season against Didcot Town. We were aware of the goal scoring prowess of Stuart Beavon, scorer of two of the goals in Didcot's FA Vase final win over AFC Sudbury two seasons ago but were unable to prevent him finding our net after just three minutes place when he shrugged off the challenge of Dean Harper to cut inside before firing across Simon into the far corner. We equalised just two minutes later when a good run and through ball by Sean Hillier put Charley Baverstock through and Charley squared the ball into the path of our new signing, Paul Olima from Taunton Town, who marked his debut with a clinical finish from close range. However, to cap an incident packed start to the game, Didcot were back in front just three minutes later when Beavon and Paul Powell opened up our defence again and Powell squared the ball to Andrew Parrott who had a simple tap in. For the next fifteen minutes, Didcot playing some excellent football looked likely to score almost every time that they attacked and Simon did well to block a close range flick from Beavon and then saved smartly from a header by Jack King. In what was an isolated attack at this stage of the game, a good pass by Chris Mills sent Charley racing through with only Chris Webb in the Didcot goal to beat, but he was forced wide as the keeper advanced and when his cross eventually found Mark Sroka on the far post, Webb was back on his goal line to block Mark's shot with his feet. Didcot went further ahead just before the interval when Dean's diving header from a cross from the right sent the ball straight to the feet of Powell who drove a low shot into our net off the inside of the post. We began to second half in very spirited fashion and almost reduced the deficit on the hour mark when substitute Victor Osobu burst into the penalty area after a good interchange of passes with Charley and Chris and his low shot was blocked by Webb before the ball was cleared to safety. Such are our fortunes currently, that almost immediately the ball was played up field where Beavon raced onto a pass from Jamie Brooks to calmly lift the ball over the advancing Simon into our net. To our great credit, we never stopped trying and Webb made two excellent saves in quick succession, firstly from Dean Thomas's shot on the turn and then from Chris's free kick. We pulled a goal back when Charley, who's endeavour never flagged all afternoon headed home Chris's cross from close range but it was too little too late to save us from another defeat.

We suffered a blow before the kick off when Simon Pratt failed a fitness test and as a result we started the game without a substitute keeper on the bench.The game had a bright beginning with Sean Cook for the visitors shooting straight at Paul Taylor whilst at the other end a shot by Dean Thomas deflected off a Thatcham defender and looped just wide of . Paul then made a great save to save Cook's point blank range header after a good cross by Jamie Green. Sean James then embarked on an excellent run deep into the Thatcham penalty area and Paul Strudley between the Thatcham posts did well to save at Charlie Baverstock's feet. On twenty minutes we had a severe warning of what was to come when a long free kick by Thatcham's Barry Elmore found Barry McLay completely unmarked at the far post and we were fortunate as McLay's shot was blocked by Paul's feet and the ball deflected over the bar. After Cook had missed a clear chance, Dean should have given us the lead when a long ball from Antony Rowlands sent him clear with only Strudley to beat but he lofted the ball wide.Thatcham took the lead in the 38th minute as we failed to deal with another Elmore free kick lofted high into our area and Cook got his head to the ball before it fell to Marc Green who had a simple tap in.

At the interval we replaced Mark Sroka with Victor Osobu but made a very lethargic start to the half and might have fallen further behind as James Suarez's shot flashed just wide. Naz Richardson then played a good ball into the path of Victor who cut in from the left before cutting the ball back across the face of the goal, Chris Mills just failing to make contact as he raced up in support. On the hour mark, Paul suffered a discolated finger and Antony took over between the sticks with Sean Hillier coming on at full back. Antony was quickly in the action, saving very well from Elmore but was left helpless when Thatcham increased their lead. A needless push by Dean Harper conceded a free kick in a dangerous position and McLay headed home Elmore's kick at the near post. We reduced the deficit two minutes later when Naz prodded home Chris's cross from close range and with twenty minutes left we had hopes of getting something out of the game but other than a great individual effort from Victor who rounded two defenders before crashing a shot just over the bar,Strudley was rarely troubled, such was the dominance of his central defenders Ricky Allaway and Sam Rea in front of him.

We dominated the early stages of the game but without creating any clear cut chances, the best chance falling to Naz Richardson who scuffed his shot straight at the keeper after being set up by Paul Olima and Adam Jaso. However, we should have taken the lead mid-way through the half when a long ball forward by Dean Harper sent Adam racing through with only the keeper to beat but Adam having shaken off a challenge from behind shot wide of the far post with the goal at his mercy. Shortly after, Adam who had been injured earlier in the game made way for Dean Thomas who was immediately in the action, firing a volley over the bar from a good position. Victor Osobu then fired straight at the keeper after being put through by Christian Metcalfe. Simeon Charles, keeping goal for us in the absence of both Simon Pratt and Paul Taylor who are injured, then made a fine save to deny Antuneil Thompson the opening goal for the home side and almost immediately play swept to the other end where Naz set up Paul Olima to score our opening goal from close range.

Feltham should have equalised in the opening minutes of the second half when we failed to clear Simon Curran's corner kick but Thompson from point blank range managed to prod the ball up and over the bar. Play at this stage of the game was much more even than it had been before the break but with our back four all playing well, Simeon was rarely in action. We made two further substitutions with Sean Hillier and Daley Joseph replacing Shane O'Connell and Paul Olima, before once again Feltham missed a great chance to equalise. From a cross from the right, Eamonn McConigley completely unchallenged headed wide of the far post.This proved to be Feltham's final chance to get something our of the game as our superior fitness began to tell and Naz, Victor and Sean all had pot shots at goal that were just wide. A cross shot from Antony Rowlands hit the inside of the post with the keeper helpless before we assured ourselves of victory two minutes from time when Naz cut in from the right before squaring the ball to Dean Thomas for a simple tap in. The roles were reversed in injury time when the keeper made a hash of a clearance and Naz shot into the empty net.Side: S.Charles, A.Rowlands, S.O'Connell, W.Clarke, D.Harper, N.Richardson, C.Mills, P.Olima, A.Jaso, C.Metcalfe and V.Osobu. Subs: D.Thomas for Jaso (29), S.Hillier for O'Connell (67) and D.Joseph for Olima (69)

We got off to the worse possible start when after just three minutes a long cross from Sam Carter was met by the League's leading goal scorer James Stokeo who slid the ball past Simeon Charles from close range. Just a minute later a fine move down the left involving Dean Thomas, Charlie Baverstock and Sean Hillier culminated in Naz Richardson striking a shot against the inside of the Lymington post with keeper, Joe McCormack beaten. McCormack then did well to palm away Charlie's header after the ball had been caught up in the high wind but two minutes later we were two behind. Some hesitant defending allowed the ball to be played square to Dave Allen who drove the ball across Simeon into the far corner. Mid way through the half, a strong challenge by Naz sent the ball through to Dean with only the keeper to beat but he delayed his shot and the chance was gone. However, ten minutes before the interval we pulled a goal back in rather fortunate fashion when Christian Metcalfe fed Naz who played the ball into Charlie's path. Charlie's shot was going well wide when it struck Carter and deflected into the Lymington net. There was nothing fortunate about our equaliser five minutes later, as a terrific cross by Sean was emphatically headed home by Naz. Play swung from end to end in the opening stages of the second half with Simeon turning a shot by Carter wide of the post whilst Jon-Barrie Bates headed Chris Mills's corner over at the other end. We then should have taken the lead when Dean's shot was dropped by McCormack and Charlie took the ball past the keeper but his shot was blocked on the line and then McCormack saved Chris's close range effort after an astute cross from Christian. Ian Davies then shot wide when right through for Lymington and then saw his close range effort hit the foot of our post and rebound to safety, before Simeon turned his header away as Lymington mounted their pressure for the winner but our defence stood firm and the referee's final whistle signalled a hard earnt point for us.

Oxford began the game in lively fashion and we came under a lot of pressure in the opening fifteen minutes but with Dean Harper and Mark Stevens coping well with the lively Ray Spence and the towering Stewart, Simon was relatively untroubled, the only major scare being when a free kick by Jon Steedman swung into the far post found an unmarked Danny Keen but we managed to scramble the ball clear. We then created the best chance of the opening period, when good work by Charley Baverstock and Naz Richardson set up a chance for Chris Mills with only the keeper to beat but Chris elected to chip the ball across the face of the goal and there was nobody up in support to apply the finishing touch. Midway through the half, Dean Thomas had three shooting chances in as many minutes but each time he missed the target. Simon then punched clear a Mark Jones free kick from right under our crossbar, but we were the better side in the closing stages of the half and after another good move involving Charley and Naz, Chris had his shot blocked by a last ditch tackle by Mark Avery just prior to the half time whistle.

We took the lead twelve minutes into the second half when the ball was cleared out to Christian Metcalfe who volleyed a terrific shot from fully thirty yards which hit the underside of the crossbar behind keeper Lee Farrow and the ball bounced down over the line before being scooped up by Farrow. Thankfully, but match officials had no hesitation in awarding the goal. Minutes later, we might have taken what could have proved to be a decisive lead when Dean's superb through ball sent Victor Osobu racing through with only Farrow to beat but the keeper made a fine save as he raced from his goal to narrow the angle.

As the minutes ticked away so did the pressure from Oxford for the equaliser intensify and they forced a succession of corners but Simon and our defence stood firm against this barrage, Simon doing particularly well on one occasion to turn Stewart's header over the bar and we then somehow scrambled clear the resultant corner. Finally, our resistance was broken when Dean's last ditch tackle on substitute Anthony Alleyne on the edge of our penalty area saw a yellow card issued and then Stewart blast the ball into our net to earn Oxford the point, that overall on the day was a fair reflection of the game.

With both Naz Richardson and Mark Sroka injured at Oxford, our side showed two changes with new signing Michael Momoh making his debut at centre half and Victor Osobu replacing Mark on the wing. These changes allowed Antony Rowlands to play in mid-field and his energy and commitment were vital factors in the opening stages of the game when we were on top with Dean Thomas's astute chip just dropping over the Brook House bar and then a good effort by Chris Mills was turned around the post by James Harry. Against the run of play, Brook House took the lead in the 22nd minute. Chris Owens got clear down the left and his low cross into the goalmouth reached the unmarked Nick Jackson who had the time to pick his spot before dispatching the ball low into our net. We should have equalised almost immediately when Victor wriggled his way through on the byline before pulling the ball back to Dean, but the ball was on Dean's weak side and the chance was lost. However, two minutes later we were level when from Sean Hillier's cross, Dean laid the ball back into the path of Charley Baverstock who beat Harry from close range. Brook House's response was immediate, as Ryan Kirkland emphatically headed home Owens's driven cross. We equalised on the stroke of half time when Harry spilt Chris's free kick and Dean bundled the ball home from close range.

We almost took the lead after just five minutes, when Harry parried Dean's close range header and then Dean's follow up header was cleared from the goal line. We were then denied a deserved lead when Chris's through ball gave Victor the opportunity to cut inside and he unleashed a right footed shot which thudded against the underside of the bar and the ball was scrambled to safety. A tremendous strike by Dean then saw the ball flash past the far post with Harry beaten. As the game entered its final stages, we began to tire and Brook House came back into the game with both Kirkland and substitute James Froud shooting wide when well placed. With just three minutes remaining, Victor was harshly penalised for what was a clean tackle on the edge of our box and our hopes of at least gaining a point from the game were dashed when Jamie Mitchell's free kick took a wicket deflection off our defensive wall, wrong footing Simon and he was only able to parry the ball into our net.

Play in the first half was very even with neither side being able to break the deadlock, although the better chances fell to Andover, with Ashley Vine shooting straight at Simeon Charles with only our keeper to beat and then David Asker shot wide when well placed. Our best chance of the half came in the final minute when Charley Baverstock charged down keeper Simon Arthur's attempted clearance before playing the ball into the path of Paul Olima who in turn pushed it wider to Victor Osobu who blasted his shot into the side netting when a shot across the keeper might have produced a better ending.

We could have taken the lead five minutes into the second half when Victor racing in to the box pulled the ball back to Charley who saw his close range effort turned over the bar by Arthur. This miss was to cost us dear as seven minutes later, we failed to clear Lee Chudy's corner from the left and the ball fell to Vine who drilled it home. We fell further behind when a cross by Chudy to the far post found Vine completely unmarked and he volleyed the ball across Simeon into the far corner. Having replaced Olima and Baverstock with Pither and Adam Jaso we were thrown a lifeline with ten minutes remaining after Ricky had set up Adam who's shot was well saved by Arthur and in the resulting scramble, the referee decided that Andover's Bobby Swayne had deliberately handled the ball and a red card was shown to Swayne and we were awarded a penalty. However, without a regular penalty taker in the side, Sean Hillier stepped up to the spot only to weakly spoon his kick high over the bar. Arthur then blocked a fiercely driven cross shot by Ricky before in the ninetieth minute, new signing Ryan Watts reduced our deficit with a left footed strike from around fifteen yards but it was all too little and too late.

We made a bright start to the game and could have taken the lead in the second minute when a good ball by Christian Metcalfe, playing against his former club, put Ricky Pither through but Ricky's shot was well saved by the Hayes keeper Keita Karamoko. We more than held our own until mid-way through the half when Hayes began to get on top and they should have scored when a good ball by Gilbert Nuako split our defence to send Kieran Knight racing through on the left flank. He cut the ball back into the path of Ryan Ashe, son of former Town player Gerry, but Ashe's finish was weak sending the ball straight into the grateful arms of Simeon Charles. Keen to make amends, Ashe then robbed Lee McManus before finding Shaun McAuley with a good shooting chance but McAuley challenged by Antony Rowlands shot high over the bar. However, minutes later we fell behind when a neat interchange of passes between Knight and Josh Scott saw the latter beat Simeon with a low shot into the far corner. Scott and Ashe both then wasted good chances whilst in the final minute of the half, Karamoko turned Adam Jaso's back header over the bar after a good cross by Sean Hillier.

Hayes were quickly in the ascendency after the interval and Simeon knew very little about a fierce drive from Scott that struck him in the chest before rebounding to safety as Hayes mounted a series of attacks on our goal. We were over run in midfield and we were fortunate that Jason O'Connor and Mark Stevens were so resolute in the centre of our defence, but the almost inevitable second goal came when a quickly taken free kick on the edge of our penalty area caught us napping and McAuley steered the ball past Simeon from an acute angle. We made three substitutions in the space of ten minutes but without being able to stem the flow towards our goal and with fifteen minutes remaining, Knight raced through with only Simeon to beat and he slid the ball into the path of Scott who had a simple task to roll the ball into our vacant net. To our credit, we never gave up with Victor Osobu in particular making determined runs almost every time that he got the ball and with three minutes left, his effort was almost rewarded when he shot across the face of the goal with only Karamoko to beat.

As to the game itself, on a very large pitch we made the perfect start when after just six minutes, Ricky Pither played a terrific ball in between Newport's two central defenders for Victor Osobo to run on to and Victor showed great composure to round the Newport keeper Richie Newberry before sliding the ball into the vacant net. Stung by this early reverse, Newport fought back strongly and Simeon Charles did well to block Ashley Wright's cross shot with his feet on the fifteen minute mark. It was midway through the half before we created another goal scoring opportunity, Ricky volleying the ball high over the bar after a precision cross by Sean Hillier. In the ten minutes before the interval, Newport wasted several clear cut chances to score, the most glaring misses being when Dean Cole right through on goal with only Simeon to beat scuffed his shot wide and then Wright shot straight at the keeper when well placed. Just before the interval,our goal somehow survived as twice in quick succession the ball flew across the face of our goal before Wright's shot hit the underside of our bar and rebounded to safety.

We made a bright start to the second half and Ricky's header went just wide of the far post from new signing Mo Saadi's cross with Newberry beaten. Newport at last found our net but full back Jamie Lunn's effort as disallowed for offside and Simeon then made a good save when diving to his left to turn Nathan Bett's shot around the post. Working hard as a side, we allowed Newport few opportunities in this half and we always looked the more likely side to score and Ricky missed a good chance pulling his shot across the face of the goal when well placed. Twelve minutes from time we scored the decisive second goal. Newberry trying to dribble the ball clear was caught in possession by Saadi who squared it to Victor who in turn set up Ricky who drove the ball low into the net to clinch three valuable points for us, ensuring that it was a happy squad making the long trip home

After having gone nineteen League games without a 'clean sheet', we got through another ninety minutes without conceding a goal, for the second game in succession following our 2-0 win at Newport (IOW). That we were able to do so, owed much to the resolute defensive play of our back four, particularly central defenders Jason O'Connor and former Swindon player, Mark Stevens, whilst behind them Simeon Charles coped very well with everything that was thrown at him, albeit that the only time that he was seriously troubled occurred late in the second half when he just managed to turn David Platt's looping header over the bar.

Swindon started the game in very positive fashion, as was to be expected from a side that had thrashed Beaconsfield Sycob 7-0 earlier in the week and we were immediately pushed back onto the defensive with Swindon playing some neat football. with Mark Draycott in the thick of the action, coming away from O'Connor and Stevens to link up well with both J.P.Mills and Pratt down the right flank. However, Swindon's shooting prowess did not match the quality of some of their approach work, with the best chances falling to Draycott who headed over from full back Kyle Lapham's cross to the far post and then Mills dragged his shot across the face of our goal with only Simeon to beat, whilst twice in quick succession Jason made decisive block tackles to deny both Mark Belcher and Chris Taylor shooting opportunities.

Two minutes into the second half, the Swindon keeper Tom King was brought into action for virtually the first time in the game as he dived to his left to save Ricky Pither's shot after Chris Mills's free kick. This incident seemed to kick start us into action with Mills and Daley Joseph beginning to see a lot more of the ball in midfield as we noticeably began to gain in confidence, with everybody in the team working hard for each other. Swindon continued to look the more likely side to score with Simeon the busier of the keepers and they introduced all three of their substitutes, including their recent signing Luke Gullick from Calne Town as they strove to break the deadlock, but we stood firm and might well have snatched victory with just two minutes remaining when Ricky showing excellent close control, rounded two defenders deep inside the Swindon penalty area but King quickly off his goal line blocked Ricky's effort from close range. We were pleased to hear the final whistle with a hard earnt point won and it was

We made a bright start to the game but fell behind after just ten minutes when slight hesitation between Dean Harper and Simeon Charles gave Matt Seedel the opportunity to win the ball and when his shot struck the post, the ball rolled into the path of Ben Porter who had a simple tap in. We continued to match our opponents in these opening stages and Victor Osobu should have done better than to run the ball over the byline after being set up by Adam Jaso. Chris Mills had a good shot that was saved by keeper Sam Mazurek and then a weak back header by Craig Vargas gave substitute Charley Baverstock a chance, but Windsor's Mark Cooper got back to block Charley's shot. On the stroke of half time, Antony Rowlands saw his effort from thirty five yards drop just over the crossbar with Mazurek stranded.

In the first minute of the second half, from Chris's free kick Daley Joseph headed just wide as we continued to strive for an equaliser and we were still in the game until we conceded the vital second goal twenty minutes into the half. Just after Simeon had made a fine save to deny Porter a second goal, he was again called into action to save from Seedel but could only push the ball into the path of Michael Chennels who had a simple task to score. We made a second substitution when Tom Stanton came on to replace Antony but before he could get into the game, Tom was left standing by Jon Case who squared the ball into the goalmouth to Seedel. Once again Simeon saved well from Seedel's first effort but again was unfortunate that the ball rebounded back into the path of Seedel who crashed it into the roof of the net. With Windsor now in complete control, we were fortunate not to fall further behind when Porter's shot hit the bar, but we were unable to prevent us conceding a further goal just three minutes from time. Once again Case was the provider as he crossed for substitute Terry O'Connor to easily beat the helpless Simeon from close range. There still remained time for us to grab a consolation goal as Charley and Victor put Christian Metcalfe through but our day was summed up when Christian scuffed his shot and the ball ran tamely into Mazurek's arms.

Meeting fellow strugglers Beaconsfield Sycob in a game that was critical to both sides, we had to settle for a point in an entertaining encounter, played at times in dreadful conditions, torrential rain and heavy winds. It was a tribute to our pitch that the game was completed with so many other games either being postponed or abandoned once they had commenced. Beaconsfield, fresh from their excellent win at Chesham United on Boxing Day began the game in fine fashion and we were rarely in the game in the opening stages. In the thirteenth minute, Beaconsfield should have taken the lead when Simeon Charles brought down Terry Gibbs in our penalty area and a penalty was awarded. Fortunately for us, Gibbs skied the resultant kick high over the bar. We had another let off when Simeon failed to get a hand on a driven cross from Ross McMeekin and Tim Walsh coming in behind him volleyed the ball against our crossbar from where it rebounded to safety. Our attacks at the other end were rare but we almost scored when Barry Keen in the Beaconsfield goal fumbled Sean Hillier's cross and Ricky Pither saw his shot blocked on the line. Minutes later, an excellent ball by Chris Mills put Charley Baverstock clear with only the keeper to beat but Charley opted to cross the ball rather than shoot and the chance was gone. Beaconsfield deservedly went ahead five minutes before the interval when we failed to close down Sam Stanley on the edge of our penalty area and he steered the ball home.

Beaconsfield changed their keeper at the interval, Shaun Coker taking over between the posts and he was quickly in action as we made a good start to the half. Mark Sroka making a welcome return to the side made a fine run before squaring the ball out to Hillier and he just failed to get onto the end of Sean's cross. However, minutes later we equalised when Sean's fierce cross shot deflected of Beaconsfield's Paul Woodhouse into the far corner. We then took the lead when the conditions were at their worst as Ricky's powerful low shot went straight through Coker into the net. Beaconsfield introduced two attacking substitutes as they pressed forward in search of the equaliser and five minutes from time they got their reward when veteran Roy Gumbs headed home McMeekin's corner. We than almost snatched victory when Coker's poor clearance went straight to Hillier who drove it back only to watch the ball strike the crossbar with Coker stranded, but overall a draw was a fair result .

We continued to enjoy the greater amount of possession but had a scare when Simeon did well to block Stuart Maynard's close range effort with his foot. It was somewhat against the run of play when Chesham took the lead on the half hour mark, when yet again we conceded a goal from a set piece as the completely unmarked Ross Lafayette headed home Maynard's corner kick at the near post. In the next five minutes, Chesham should have put the game out of our reach when Lafayette hooked over Kevin Cotton's cross from close range and then Mark Williams completely missed his kick from another Cotton cross which found him in the clear at the far post. Simeon then made a tremendous save to turn left back Lee Grant's shot over the bar. We then missed a great chance to equalise when Mark Sroka, who had caused problems to the Chesham defence in this half almost every time that he got the ball, found himself clear with only the keeper to beat but in a similar fashion to Charley earlier in the game, all he managed to do was to run the ball into Niedzwiecki's grateful arms.

Skipper Chris Mills failed to appear for the second half being replaced by Antony Rowlands and five minutes later we suffered another blow when Simeon limped off to be replaced by substitute keeper Paul Taylor. Paul was quickly called into action but had only been on the field for nine minutes when he was picking the ball out of the net as he was beaten by Ashley Higgins's low shot at the near post. Chesham were now in almost total control with Niedzwiecki almost a spectator in their goal but to our great credit, we continued to work exceptionally hard as a team with nobody dropping their heads as we strove to get back into the game.

Our woeful season continued last Saturday as we suffered our heaviest defeat since being beaten by the same score, 5-0, by Marlow back in September. However, it all could have been so different had we be able to capitalise on our excellent start, during which time we missed a clear cut scoring opportunity and were also denied our justified claims for a penalty kick. In the third minute, Keith Rowlands making a very welcome return to the side after an absence of three months during which he missed seventeen games, put Ricky Pither through with only Rob Bullivant in the Uxbridge goal to beat but Bullivant blocked Ricky's shot with his feet. Fifteen minutes later, Keith wide on the left rounded Bullivant who was stranded yards from his goal and played the ball into the path of Ricky who was bundled over by a covering defender only for the referee to wave play on. At the other end, we had one scare with Antony Rowlands clearing a Billy Matthews's header from a corner kick off the line so it was so disappointing when we fell behind just before the half hour mark. We failed to clear a long free kick into our box and Jamie Pritchard bundled the ball home at the far post. Keith then drove a fierce free kick past the Uxbridge wall but straight at Bullivant. Uxbridge went further ahead ten minutes later when Paul Taylor failed to cut out a low cross by Charlie Hill and Mark Nichols, who along with Bullivant has just signed from Northwood, had a simple task to turn the ball home from close range . On the stroke of half time, we conceded a third goal and yet again it was a cross from the right, this time by Ian Dickens, and Hill headed decisively past a helpless Paul.

At the interval, we replaced debutant Alfie Pattison with Sean Hiller, Warren Clarke moving into the centre of our defence alongside Mark Stevens. The second half was a very mundane affair, with Uxbridge in control but without causing us any real problems at the back until they brought on the first of their three substitutes, Dean Peltohaka, and with almost his first touch, he put Uxbridge four ahead , cleverly steering the ball across Paul as he got the better of Mark inside our box. To our great credit we kept plugging away and should have pulled a goal back when a good ball by Daley Joseph set Mark Sroka away. Bullivant blocked Mark's cross shot and the ball ran clear to Keith who fired it just wide of the far post. With five minutes to go, Uxbridge completed the scoring with their fifth goal, an aimless long ball forward finding Peltohaka in the clear and he lofted the ball over Paul into our net as he came off his line to narrow the angle.

We began the game in fine fashion, matching Paulton in all departments and we came closest to scoring with both Antony Rowlands and Ricky Pither firing just wide when presented with shooting opportunities. We took the lead mid-way through the half when Paulton failed to clear Christian Metcalfe's in swinging corner from the left and Dean forced the ball home from close range. The corner had been won by Mark Sroka who was creating all manner of problems for The Paulton defence down their right flank. Having fallen behind, Paulton fought back strongly but we coped well with their long ball barrage. Arman's sure handling giving confidence to his defenders and the only real opportunity that Paulton created in the half was when Jake Reid played the ball into the path of Dan Cleverley, who with a clear sight of goal, blazed the ball over the bar.

Three minutes into the second half, Antony burst clear on the right but his shot to the near post was turned aside by Dave Dyson in the Paulton goal. This was virtually the only clear cut chance that we created in the second period as Paulton began to dominate proceedings, winning a succession of corners and free kicks, that were mainly launched into our goalmouth by the left foot of Ben Cleverley. Our back line stood up resolutely to the pressure, with the closest Paulton came to equalising, being when an overhead kick by Lee Bryant inside our goal area drifted wide of the far post with our keeper stranded. Both sides introduced all three of their substitutes, Paulton bringing on Ashley Barnes who had caused us so many problems in Paulton's 2-1 win earlier in the season. As the minutes ticked away, it seemed that at last we would gain our second home win of the season, but Paulton were not to be denied as Cleverley's low shot found the corner of the net with John seemingly unsighted. We then had to endure seven minutes of added on time before the referee's whistle brought a fiercely competitive game to its end.