Practice Game on Sunday 6th May

Update Wed 2nd May
The Closes is free for Sunday so our training game is on. Meet at 11.30am, it's a game between ourselves for about an hour which should be good practice for the tournaments ahead. All our very welcome.


Posted Mon 30th April
We're planning a practice game at Midday on Sunday 6th May at The Closes for an hour or so. Please be there for 11.30am and all friends of the club are welcome. We need to confirm the pitch is definitely available so please watch this space for updates.

No training on Tuesday 1st May

Posted Mon 30th April
There's no training this Tuesday, the pitch is unlikely to be ok and there's a few that can't make it (me included!)

Friendly v CM U15s Sunday 29th April - OFF

Update 9am Sun 29th Apr
I've just heard from Stuart, the Under 15s manager, The Closes is unsurpsingly flooded in the car park and various parts of the pitch so the game has been called off. Best of luck to the Under 15s in their big final game next Sunday.


Update Sat 28th Apr
Abingdon's pitch is unplayable so the game has been moved to The Closes, Cumnor with a 12 midday kick off. The weather may have the final say with this so confirmation with be posted here at 11am


Posted Wed 25th Apr
We've arranged another friendly against our fellow Under 15 side, this time at Abingdon United's ground which is in Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1PL
Kick off is at 10.30am so please meet there by 10am.
For those that need a lift we are leaving Elms Parade at 9.45am.

Training on Tuesday 24th April at The Closes

Posted 17th April

After our short break we resume training at The Closes in Cumnor, 7pm Tuesday April 24th, ahead of our friendly against the Under 15s on Sunday.

We'll go over the various events ahead including tournaments and Presentation Day.

Cumnor Minors Presentation Day

Posted 17th April
The Cumnor Presentation Day is at 11am until around 2-3pm on the 12th May and it essential everyone turns up for that. We're giving out the usual trophies plus league runners up medals so all players will get plenty to take back with them.
Don't forget all spectators get the opportunity to vote for their player of the season, so if you haven't voted already please do so. You only need to have been to a handful of games to qualify for a vote and it is open to family and friends. Please send your vote via email to the management or text/call my mobile on 07785 746756.
Each team has to help out with something at the Presentation Day and I've agreed we are to run the Penalty Shoot Out - it was that or clearing up at the end! It's not actually penalties but a board Paul Lyon is providing with holes to kick a ball through in order to score 1, 2 or 3 points. It just needs someone to collect the money and add up the scores. I'm sure we can all take it in turns until everyone gets bored of it all.

Tournaments

We are considering playing a number of number of tournaments during the spring and summer and these are the favourites so far.

Cholsey   Sat 26 May   5 aside
Crowmarsh  Sun 3 June  5 a side
Radley  Sun 17 June  6 a side
Kidlington  Sun 24 June  11 a side

We do need an idea of who is available for these before we book. Please let me know via  the management or text/call my mobile on 07785 746756.

Friendly on April 29th

Cumnor Minors U15s have invited us to play a friendly on April 29th at Midday.

It should be another good game against one of the top under 15s in the league. 

If you want to play please let me know via the management or text/call my mobile on 07785 746756.

No training on Tuesday

Posted Tue 20th Mar:
No training tonight as it's the end of the season. We will be moving towards our summer sessions on Sundays. Any feedback regarding timing and location would be gratefully received.

CM V Radley Youth

18th March 2012   Result 4-2  HT 2-1

Scorers for CM: Robbie Catling   Obaida Mohamedi   Jamie Smith   Leo Branica

This was the last game of the season and a local derby meant this was bound to be an interesting match.

We started in our usual way, constantly bombarding their goal but failing to score with this time, Leo, Jamie, Max and Jake all missing out.

It took Robbie to get the first goal after 25 minutes when their keeper passed to a defender. Robbie took the ball off him and began bearing down on the gaol. Ignoring my cries of 'don't shoot!' he shot to the left side of the goal giving their keeper no chance.

Following more attacks Obaida used his tremendous speed to take the ball from a long forward pass and shoot into the lower left side of the goal meaning we were 2-0 up.

We got a little complacent and allowed Radley to pull one back shortly before half time with a well taken goal by Josh McGowan shooting from inside the penalty area.

Pete's half time talk centred around maintaining the work rate, not dwelling on the ball and making sure we didn't allow Radley back into the game.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were pretty even, Radley had the tails up and were searching for an equaliser and we desperate to get our two goal lead back. Connor made an excellent point blank save from their striker to deny them what looked like a certain goal. Max and Jamie both went close with long range shots

Jamie was causing havoc to their defence and got his reward when he was pushed in the back in the penalty area. He scored from the resulting penalty with the calm assurance only generally seen in the Premier League.

This meant we were 3-1 up and with 10 minutes to play, Pete made the brave decision to bring off Jack for Leo and play three at the back. He was rewarded almost immediately when some great interpaasing between Obaida and Leo led to Leo scoring his first goal of the season to great cheers all round.

Radley got their second with three minutes left when a well taken cross allowed Jason Black to head home.
Man of the Match goes to Charlie Bennett for another consistent good game in central defence.

It was a very good result for us against a well organised and managed Radley team and fitting end to a successful season.

Next game home to Radley Youth

Posted Wed 14th Mar
Our final league game is home against Radley Youth on Sunday 18th March at the Closes, kick off 2pm. Please be there by 1.15pm for this vital game.

Training on Tuesday 13th March

Posted Mon 12th Mar:
We are training as usual on Tuesday, 7pm at Fogwell Road ahead of our last league game of the season on Sunday.

CM v Deddington Town

11th March 2012   Result 3-3  HT 2-1

Scorers for CM: Jamie Smith   Max Robson   Obaida Mohamedi

This was a morning kick off and the game began in glorious sunshine.

It soon settled into a good even match with both sides playing some quality football.

Jamie broke the deadlock after 20 minutes scoring directly from a corner with his looping cross going over the goalkeeper's outstretched arms.

Deddington levelled the score ten minutes later with a shot following a breakaway giving Connor no chance.

They then took the lead shortly before half time scrambling the ball into the net. There was a suspicion of handball and unfortunately Ben was yellow carded and Charlie sent off for remarks said to the referee.

Deddington manager, Barry Grant, spoke to the ref at half time and he graciously allowed us replace Charlie with another player to keep the numbers even. This was a great piece of sportsmanship on Barry's part.

Pete concentrated on the football aspect in his half time talk praising the lads' effort and asking Robbie and Obaida to go wide when we were on the attack to stretch their defence.

This tactic worked well in the second half and we spent large portions of the game in their half limiting Deddington to breakaway chances.

We were rewarded with the equaliser after 60 minutes with a strong shot 10 yards out from Max Robson. 

We continued to go for the winner and got a goal after 70 minutes when Joff slipped the ball to Obaida in the penalty area and his left foot shot hit the net from 5 yards out.

It looked like we were going to celebrate an unexpected victory but with only 2 minutes left to play Deddington equalised with a good shot 12 yards out from their number 5 on another breakaway move.

It was an excellent draw for us against the 2nd placed team in the B league and everyone again played their part. Connor had another great game and as Westy remarked, kept us in the game in the first half with some spectacular saves. The defence was resolute against a fast and well organised attack and could do little about the goals conceded. Midfield and attack played some excellent passing football and on another day would have scored more goals.

Man of the Match goes to Obaida for a tireless performance on the right wing.

The linesman was fantastic although not quite as  professional as Nick Penfold who was too ill to fulfil the role today.