26th May Cholsey semi-finalists.
This was the Under 17/18s tournament at Cholsey Recreational Ground. 11 teams entered and each team played 8 games with the top 8 going into quarter finals. The 8 games were 5 a side with 2 subs over 10 minutes with no half time.
Cumnor's squad was Kane Slaymaker, Daniel West, Jack Hitchen, Zak Betnay, Jim Whitelock, Jamie Smith, and Cameron Selkirk.
The first game, against Cholsey Bluebirds B, was won 1-0 thanks to a crisp shot from the centre by Jamie Smith.
The second, against Blazed Gorgonites was probably the worst performance of the day losing 2-0 thanks to a couple of decent passing moves from Blazed that bamboozled Cumnor's defence.
The next game against Cholsey Bluebirds was a much better performance resulting in a 3-1 win. The first was a great poacher's goal from Jack when he bundled the ball in the net and the second was an excellent shot by Jamie Smith. The third was contender for the goal of the tournament as Kane launched a great strike from his own penalty area which curled beautifully into the top left hand corner.
The fourth game against Jay's Team, comprising members of Brightwell Under 18s, was a tight, well fought match that ended 0-0
Summertown Stars were the next up and this was another draw with a penalty for either side. The first for a push on Jack which had to be retaken because a Summertown player shouted as Jamie took his shot, even though he scored. Jack took the retaken penalty and drilled it to the keeper's left. Cumnor had a definite claim for another penalty when Jamie was bundled off the ball in the area but the referee didn't give it because, as he admitted later, he thought Cumnor were going to win anyway. This was not to be as Cameron was later judged to push one of Summertown players in the area giving them the equaliser.
Ducklington A were next and it was a good battle with Jamie opening the scoring, but they equalised soon afterwards. The winner was supplied by another contender of goal of the tournament when Westy took the ball deep in his own half and set off on a run, passing numerous Ducklington players and only stopping when he slotted the ball in the net.
The next game was against Tekkers United, probably the best team in the tournament. It was a tough match and Cumnor acquitted ourselves well and came away with a 1-1 draw. Tekkers scored first with a well taken free kick when the taker feigned to shoot but passed to his right where an oncoming playing blasted it into the net. Cumnor's reply was the third contender for goal of the tournament, an excellent curled free kick from Jamie from the centre of the pitch.
The last game of the league was against Ducklingon B and Cumnor took the opportunity to let Kane loose on the pitch with Daniel West going in goal. This produced the goods after a mere 30 seconds with Kane scoring a great opportunistic goal. Ducklington scored two after that but Jamie made the result 2-2 with another well struck goal.
At the end of the league matches Cumnor were comfortably in the quarter finals with the record of W3 D4 L1
The quarter final was ironically against the previous team, Ducklington B although 5 minutes each way rather than 10 straight minutes. This time Cumnor played their regular formation and won the game comfortably although the score was 1-0 from yet another well taken Jamie goal.
The semi final was against AFC Brightwell who were a very good under 18s team. It was a tough contest and first half finished 0-0. The second half started badly for Cumnor as Brightwell scored immediately from the kick off with an good individual goal. Cumnor pressed for the equaliser and this caused them to let in a second goal from a Brightwell breakaway. They didn't allow their heads to go down and were rewarded with a well taked goal from a strike by Jack. Pressing for the equaliser towards the end of the game meant Cumnor left gaps in the defence and Brightwell scored a third, running out winners 3-1.
It was a great all round performance from the players. The majority of the teams in the tournament were high quality under 18 sides. Cumnor were the best placed under 17 team so can be very pleased with the efforts of the day.
