CM v Hinksey Park

30th September   Home   Result 2-1   Half time 1-0

Scorers for Cumnor Minors: Ben Whitehead  Jamie Smith

The conditions were excellent for football, a welcome return to good weather after the previous week's continual rain. The game marked the season debuts for Jack Bowler and Joe Allen with Jack Hitchen playing the first half in goal.

It was a scrappy start with neither side gaining real control. The deadlock was eventually broken with a powerful headed goal by Ben Whitehead from a Jamie Smith corner.

The first half finished at 1-0. We could claim to be marginally the better side but it was a closely fought half.

Jake Gerring volunteered to take over in goal allowing Jack Hitchen to play in his normal midfield role. Jack Bowler came on to play his first game of the season recovering from his foot injury.

We strived for the second goal and it was a slotted shot from the left by Jamie Smith after 55 minutes. He was put through by Jake's clearance to give us the two goal cushion.

Hinksey Park pulled a goal back with a well taken lobbed shot from Charlie Aires from a breakaway giving Jake no chance.

We should have seen the game out comfortably but contrived to miss opportunities in front of goal, so it was rather a nervy end to the game. 

You could sense Hinksey Park are a newly formed club, they have some cracking players particularly their striker, TJ, who had a great game and will certainly score plenty of goals as the team's play improves through the season.

We kept our 100% record but it was a much tougher game than anticipated. It was good to see Jack Bowler back and Joe Allen contributed well in his first game for some time. Many thanks to Kane for running the line and doing a really good job too. A special mention to the referee, Richie Bush, who had an excellent game.

Joint man of the match goes to Jack Hitchen and Jake Gerring for stepping up to share the keeper role as others stared at the floor.

Next game at home to Hinksey Park

Our next game is at home on Sunday 30rd September against Hinksey Park, kick off 2pm. We will be playing at The Closes, please be there at 1.15pm.

You may be wondering why we are having so many home games in a row. This game should have been at Hinksey Park but they asked for the fixture to be reversed with the scheduled home game against them on 20th January as their pitch is being used on Sunday.

Training on Thursday at Tilsley

We are training 7pm sharp on Thursday 27th September at Tilsley Park ahead of our home game at 2pm Sunday 30th September against Hinksey Park.

CM v Kidlington Youth

23rd September   Home   Result 5-3   Half time 4-0

Scorers for Cumnor Minors:   Jack Hitchen   Obaida Mohamedi   Cameron Craig (2)
Jamie Smith

The game was played in driving rain, a complete contrast to the previous matches that were blessed with sunshine. Well done to the loyal spectators that braved the conditions to cheer on the lads.
We started in our usual bright fashion with Conrad Deer, Jack Hitchen and Obaida Mohamedi all going close with shots on goal.
It was Jack Hitchen who opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a great header from a Jamie Smith cross. A few minutes later Obaida doubled the lead with a well taken shot through the centre of goal, giving him a goal in each of our first three games.
At 25 minutes Cameron Craig came on for Robbie Catling and soon added a third goal with a breakaway, shooting from the left and giving their keeper no chance.
There was drama on the half hour when Conrad Deer was upended from an out of control tackle. The Kidlington player was sent off and Conrad's injury meant he could take no further part in the game. Fortunately his foot is only badly bruised so he should be able to play next week.
Cameron added a second goal shortly afterwards with another well taken shot and the half finished 4-0.
It should have been a simple task to see out the game in the second half but Kidlington are a decent side and battled strongly. They won a penalty after 55 minutes when Charlie Bennett was judged to have fouled inside the box. It was a well taken shot to the right beating Kane Slaymaker's outstretched arms.
This is gave Kidlington heart and they reduced the deficit again with a opportunistic goal at 65 minutes to make it 4-2.
At 80 minutes Jamie Smith was fouled in the D of the penalty area and took the resulting free kick himself. It was a superbly taken precision shot along the floor, wide of their wall but just inside the right post to make it 5-2.
Kidllngton didn't allow their heads to go down and with three minutes to go pulled another one back with a header following a cross from the right.
The first half was probably the best I've seen our team play, we rather took our foot off the pedal in the second half but to be fair Kidlington played really well and deserved to make the score respectable.
There were quite a few highlights in the game: Cameron's two quick goals, Jim Whitelock's awesome dribbling display leaving lunging Kidlington defenders in his wake, two fantastic saves form Kane and the last ditch combination saves on the line from Charlie Bennett and Ben Whitehaed when Kidlington seemed certain to score.
Westy had a good solid game at right back, Conrad was playing exceptionally well until he got injured and Jack Hitchen practically controlled the midfield. The Man of the Match goes to Jamie Smith for his hard work in midfield and that great free kick.
The result puts us second in the table, being one of three teams with three wins in the first three matches.

Next game at home to Kidlington Youth

Our next game is at home on Sunday 23rd September against Kidlington Youth, kick off 2pm. We will be playing at The Closes, please be there at 1.15pm.

Training on Thursday at Tilsley Park

We begin our winter training at Tilsley Park, 7pm on Thursday 20th September.
We are on pitch 1b wherever that is. Please be there at 7pm sharp to make full use of the hour.

CM v Ducklington

16th September  Home.  Result 1-0  half time 0-0

Scorer for Cumnor Minors: Obaida Mohamedi

We started the game on top with Jamie Smith, Conrad Deer and Robbie Catling all going close.  Ducklington forced their way into the game as the half progressed and it took a couple of great saves from Kane Slaymaker and some last ditch defending from Daniel West and Ben Whitehead to keep the score 0-0 at half time.
The second half was rather scruffy with neither side able to take control. The deadlock was broken at 75 minutes when a great through ball from Ben Whitehead direct to Obaida Mohamedi led to him giving their keeper no chance with a coolly taken shot through the middle of the goal.
There was drama with five minutes to go when Ben was forced to upend their striker when he was through on goal. The resulting penalty was superbly saved by Kane Slaymaker.
Overall it wasn't the best of performances by us but Ducklington are a useful fighting side and could feel aggrieved at getting nothing from the game
I thought Ben Whitehead had a great game, but our man of the match has to be Kane Slaymaker, not only for his excellent penalty save but a great overall display as keeper with some outstanding kicks from hand, he'll get a goal with one of those one day.

Next game at home to Ducklington

Our first home game is on Sunday 15th September against Ducklington, kick off 2pm. We will be playing at The Closes, please be there by 1.15pm.

Training on Thursday 13th September

We are training as usual at The Closes, Cumnor  7pm sharp on Thursday 13th September ahead of our first home match of the season at 2pm on Sunday 16th September

The good news is we start training at Tilsley Park from next Thursday, 7pm 20th September, details to follow.

Wantage Town v CM

9th September away Result 1-3 half time 1-2

Scorers for CM: Jim Whitelock   Jamie Smith   Obaida Mohamedi

The game began in glorious late summer sunshine. We started brightly and after 10 minutes Jim Whitelock jinxed his way through the penalty area to open the scoring. Wantage levelled after after 15 minutes with a well taken free kick on the edge of the penalty area . At 25 minutes Kane Slaymaker was controversially sent off for abusive language after he responded to taunt from a Wantage player. It seemed a harsh decision by the referee who apparently didn't hear the Wantage lad's remarks. Jack Hitchen took over in goal but despite being down to ten men we took the lead with an excellent lobbed shot from Jamie Smith. This meant the half finished 2-1.
The second half was going to be tough in the heat with a man short but the team responded excellently. Obaida Mahomedi's dogged determination got his reward at the third attempt in from goal to make in 3-1. Jack Hitchen didn't put a foot wrong in goal, but the defence did their job well and limited Wantage to a few half chances
It was a good solid start to the season. It's fair to say we dominated the game even with just 10 men and with a bit more luck in front of goal we would have scored plenty more. Jamie Smith, Conrad Deer and Jim Whitelock worked tirelessly in the midfield and are awarded joint men of the match.

First game away to Wantage Town

Our first game of the 2012/13 season is away to Wantage Town, kck off 2pm on Sunday 9th September.

Their ground is at Alfredian Park, Manor Road, Wantage OX12 8DW. Please be there by 1.15pm.

If you would like a lift to the ground we are leaving Elms Parade at 12.45pm. Please let us know so we can make sure there is a space.

Training on Thursday 6th September

We are training this Thursday 6th September, 7pm at The Closes ahead of our first league game against Wantage on Sunday. It is essential all attend this last session before the start of the season especially as our planned friendly on Wednesday has been cancelled.

Please could all those who wish to register for the season ahead supply address details if you didn't play for us last year and date of birth proof if you didn't play for another OIYL club.

Friendly 6.15pm Wednesday 5th September - cancelled

Update 3rd September
We've just heard from Abingdon Utd and they are unable to fulfill the fixture because of injuries so the game is cancelled. Apologies all round

Our second friendly is against Abingdon Utd U16s at their ground, Northcourt Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1PL
Kick off is 6.15pm sharp on Wednesday September 5th, please be there by 5.45pm. For those that can't get to the ground there will be lifts from Elms Parade setting off at 5.30pm. Please let us know if you need a lift to make sure there is a space for you.

Friendly 11am Sunday 2nd September

Our first friendly match is against Dedington U17s at their new ground, Middle Barton, Worton Road Middle Barton Oxon OX7 7EE - all are welcome.

Kick off is 11am on Sunday September 2nd, please be there by 10.15am. 

For those that can't get to the ground there will be lifts from Elms Parade, be there at 9.45am. If you do need a lift it would be good to let us know so we can make sure there is a space for you.