OW’s lineup showed a mature team with lots of good experience and two younger wingers. So, two things were asked for in the team talk - a) plenty of energy right from the start and b) do not take it up to their defenders and try to dribble past them. Well we certainly started with lots of energy and had them in all sorts of trouble in the first 20 minutes - largely thanks to great energy and drive from MaxB and HarryB. Both had excellent games in midfield, taking on the OW players and getting crosses or shots in. With a little bit of luck we could have been ahead at half-time but crosses either didn’t quite reach the attackers or the keeper kept the shots out. At the other end, our defence and gk (MaxR reprising his glory days) were confidently keeping them out. Notably, Faiz making an incredible near goal-line clearance at one stage.

The second half started with us on top and creating several chances - their keeper doing well to frustrate JD several times. Some frustrations began to appear and we began to run with the ball rather than see the pass - often beating the first player but not the 2nd or 3rd. Our frustration was added to as OW saw the opportunity to put us under pressure for 15 or 20 minutes, during which time all our defenders did well to keep them at bay - Ray particularly putting his body on the line as usual. Unfortunately they eventually found an attacker in space, just outside a post, and he slotted it excellently back across and in.

We took this on the chin and continued to attack, with Chester pushing forward to add something different to the attack. He duly did this, trying to create things high on the left and winning a short corner. It was hit out to Kembie, slipped to JD, a cross cum shot to the near post - Chester’s touch spins out to the right behind DC who spins and slots it for a late equaliser.

MoM: Shared between Faiz (great game at right back) and MaxB (great drive in midfield and coming back on after an injury from what looked to be a late tackle). Honourable mentions to HarryB (another great left midfield performance) and Zain (lovely stick skills added to good positional awareness to find space).
DoD: Can only be Ray whose warm-up consisted of running back to his car to fetch his stick.