Possible friendly Sunday 15th January

Update Wednesday 11th Jan
I spoke to the Ducklington manager saying we are keen to play a friendly on Sunday as arranged. He will get back to us this evening to let us know if they can make it. I'll post on here as soon as I hear from them.

Update Wednesday 9.47pm
I've just heard from Ducklington and they can't make the friendly. I suspect it's too late to arrange anything with another team so it looks like we've all got a rest on Sunday.

Update Thursday 2pm
I've made a couple of enquiries but it's rather short notice for other clubs. It's also been pointed out there's sub-zero temperatures predicted for the weekend so the pitch may well be unplayable.

See you all on Tuesday for training.

Training on Tuesday 10th January

We are training as usual on Tuesday, 7pm at Fogwell Road.
There's no game on Sunday but we are looking to see if we can get a friendly arranged although it is rather short notice.
Updates will be posted on here

CM v Ducklington

8th January 2012   Result 1-2 HT 0-0

Scorers for CM: Jim Whitelock   Jamie Smith

This promised to be a mouth watering match featuring second against third following a 1-1 draw earlier in the season.
The game started off with our usual onslaught on the opponent's goal with unfortunately the same inability to put the ball in the net. Not through lack of skill or effort but some solid goalkeeping and a couple of shots that went just wide. The goalmouth was in a poor state mainly due to a game being played just before ours which didn't help.
Jamie, Max, Conrad and Jake all went close and on another day we would have been two or three up at half time. Duclkington were resolute in defence but I can't remember them getting a chance in the first half.
The first half finished 0-0 and Pete had a simple half-time talk. It went something like "I can't believe we haven't scored, so just keep on doing what you are and the goals will come".
Ducklington improved after the break but on 55 minutes we got our long awaited goal. A 20 yard shot by Obaida Mohamedi was palmed out by the keeper to give away a corner. The resulting cross from Jamie Smith was superbly headed inside the near post by Jim Whitelock when he rose above the rest in a crowded penalty area.
Would the floodgates open for more? While we were thinking just that Ducklington equalised two minutes later. It was a breakaway and a mix up in defence, but the atrocious conditions in the goalmouth that stopped us scoring in the first half helped present Ducklington with their goal.
This raised Ducklington's game and it looked as if they might just snatch victory after being under the cosh for so long. Only some good defending and a couple of great saves by Connor Penfold meant we were able to continue searching for the winner.
We still created chances but you couldn't help feeling the game was going to peter out to a draw. Thankfully Jamie Smith had other ideas and his 20 yard rasping shot from the centre of the pitch beat their keeper just inside his left post to give us the victory that seemed out of our grasp.
The second half had a couple of highlights - Jim Whitelock's run from virtually his own penalty area when he drifted past three of their players. He got into their penalty area and instead of taking a shot for certain goal of the season he unselfishly passed to Conrad "because he was in a better position to score". Ben Everley had a strong second half up front and should have been rewarded with a goal.
So it ended 2-1 to Cumnor and although Ducklington battled well, especially in the second half, I think it's fair to say we deserved our win.
All should be pleased with their performance, you can see why they were third in the division as they never allowed us to completely dominate the game. It was good to see Ben Whitehead return as captain although Jim played well in defence in his absence.
Man of the Match goes to Jamie Smith for his usual tireless display and of course saving the day with his great goal.
Many thanks yet again to Nick Penfold for his also usual excellent performance running the line with some key decisions in the second half. Mind you he spent most of the first half watching the action in the other half of the pitch, although as he claimed he did have to run up and down a lot.

Rearranged fixtures

Our postponed fixture away to Banbury United is now at 2pm on the 29th January.
The fixture at home to Radley Youth has been moved to 26th February. I'm not sure why there is such a large gap to this game after Banbury. We'll investigate and see if we can get it moved back a week or so.

Next game away to Ducklington

Our next game is on Sunday 8th January away to Ducklington, kick off 2pm. Their ground is at Glebelands Playing Field, Standlake Road, Ducklington, Witney, OX29 7UX. Please be there by 1.15pm.
If you would like a lift we are leaving Elms Parade at 12.45pm, please let us know so we can make sure there are enough spaces.
This should be good game against the team that is third in the league and one of only two we haven't beaten this season, drawing our previous game 1-1.

Back to training on Tuesday

I hope you all enjoyed the Christmas break
We're back training at 7pm on Tuesday 3rd January at Fogwell Rd ahead of Sunday's game against Ducklington.

CM v Wantage Town

18th December 2011   Result 4-1 HT 1-1

Scorers for CM: Robbie Catling   Conrad Deer   Joff Stimpson   Max Robson

The pitch had some shallow frost along one side but was deemed likely to be playable after a precautionary inspection by Paul Lyon at Midday. This was confirmed half an hour before kick off by referee David Lester. It proved to be the right decision as the game was played in bright sunshine and virtually no wind making it excellent conditions for football.
We had our customary good start but some fine goalkeeping from Wantage, some indifferent finishing from us and a bit of bad luck meant we were unable to convert the chances to a goal. It was Wantage that took the lead after 20 minutes with a well taken goal after some neat passing on the right and a good shot low into the right corner giving our keeper no chance.
Five minutes later Robbie Catling equalised when he had the quickness of mind to pounce on a loose ball and score after his earlier shot was parried by the keeper.
The remaining half was a balanced game with few chances on either side meaning the score at half time remained 1-1
The stalemate was broken ten minutes into the second half with a great shot by Conrad Deer from outside the penalty area.
Wantage pressed well looking for the equaliser and it was easy to see how their results have improved lately as they looked likely to score. They were only denied by good goalkeeping from Connor Penfold and a slice of luck on our side.
It was left to Joff Stimpson to make the game relatively safe with an amazing goal. He picked the ball up twenty yards from goal on a breakaway and despite the attention of three Wantage defenders dribbled through to the goal line and coolly stroked the ball in from three yards out on the left side.
Wantage heads dropped a little after this and Max Robson scored our fourth with a goal in stoppage time when he calmly slotted home following a cross from Conrad Deer.
Cumnor Man of the Match is Jamie Smith who battled all game and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal.
Many thanks again to Nick Penfold who ran the line in his customary professional manner.
Wantage are in a false position at the bottom of the league, they played well and matched us for a lot of the game. If they play their remaining games as they did today they won't be there for long.
This was our third win in a row and we go into the Christmas break in second place with a seven point cushion over third.

Next game at home to Wantage Town

Our next game and last of 2011 is on Sunday 18th December at home to Wantage Town, kick off 2pm, please be there by 1.15pm.
The weather should be ok by Sunday but if there is any doubt of the game going ahead all updates will be posted on here.

Training on Tuesday 13th December - OFF

There's a pitch inspection this afternoon. Result posted on here at 3pm

I've just been to look at the pitch, there's a lot of standing water in the areas we train and it's pouring with rain. I don't think we can gain anything by training this evening except ruin the pitch and risk injuries, so the sensible desicion is to cancel.

CM v Greater Leys Youth

11th December 2011   Result 1-2

Scorers for CM: Jake Gerring  Robbie Catling

Another game where we started well and the first goal came after 15 minutes from a great header looping over their keeper following an inch perfect cross from Robbie Catling.
Robbie then followed up with a well taken shot just inside the penalty area meaning we were 2-0 up at half time.
The second half was a lot tougher with Greater Leys upping the tempo and scoring with 20 minutes to go. This lead to a nervy last few minutes but we held on to our lead to run out winners.
It was a good solid performances from the whole team and all should be pleased with the way they played. There were some particular highlights: Connors excellent save when their striker was clean through, a last ditch tackle from Westy saving a clear goal scoring opportunity and Leo nearly opening his account with a breakaway that led to his shot smashing against the post.
Jim played well in central defence in place of the injured Ben Whitehead, and Max ran tirelessly in midfield the whole game.

Many thanks to Nick Penfold for running the line in the first half and refereeing in the second as the referee didn't show. Ben Whitehead also did his bit by running the line in the second half. Both did a great job.

It was a really good result against a spirited and well organised Greater Leys team who never stopped trying.
We are now clear in second spot with a game in hand and four points ahead of third place.

Next game away to Greater Leys Youth

Our next game is on Sunday 11th December away to Greater Leys Youth, kick off 2pm. Their ground is at Oxford Spires Academy Glanville Rd, Oxford OX4 2AU, please be there by 1.15pm.
If you would like a lift we are leaving Elms Parade at 1pm, please let us know so we can make sure there are enough spaces.

Training on Tuesday

We are training as usual at 7pm on Tuesday 5th December at Fogwell Rd ahead of next week's game against Greater Leys