After yet another delay was forced upon us by the adverse weather conditions, Oatlands FC were back in action this week against AFC Gomshall. In late 2008 we played Gomshall at their place in a nail biter in which we emerged as 4-1 victors. On that day we put in a superb defensive performance when we were down to just 10 men for much of the second half and a fine team performance saw us emerge as victors when the amount of possession and chances suggested that it should probably have been 4-1 to Gomshall. A mere 6 league games further down the line and much has changed. This time it was Gomshall in the ascendancy up the league table and OFC who are fighting to string a run of decent results together.

As a result of this weeks fixture being scheduled for a home tie, Harps and Beater had to make numerous calls to ensure that we were able to fulfil our scheduled fixture. Fortunately they came up trumps and we were able to borrow the pitch at West End.

Other team news going into this fixture included the fact that there was no Sonny at centre back this week and no Jarv. Michael Taylor did make the team despite waking up on a park bench in Shepperton at 11am on Saturday morning. Bayno was scheduled to play but suffered a recurrence of his injury during the warm up.

This week’s team included five changes to the team that previously beat Gomshall. In came Furno, Gravy, Clarkey, Jiz and Ross who replaced Dom, Pete Hallam, Bayno, Jordy and Joe.

This weeks team. Sam, Fraz, Barry, Furno, Mike, Clarkey, Gravy, Rosco, Jim, Butler, Jiz. On the bench Prycey, Andy and Joe.

All the chat before the game was about good starts and not letting the opposition settle into their own game. But with 3 minutes on the clock that was all out of the window as OFC rolled over to expose their soft underbellies to the opposition and were first to concede for the 8th time this season. I saw the finish, but missed the build up because I was contemplating making myself a cup of tea. Woeful start 0-1.

Although the scoreline was less than ideal, it was really just one small error in what was a pretty decent start to the game from our perspective and after 5 minutes we were playing fairly well. We were passing it round quite nicely, making a decent scrap of it in midfield and beginning to find a decent foothold in the game.

After the first 15 minutes of the game, which apart from the goal, had passed pretty much without incident, we had our first peek at goal. Jim Beckram, now playing in a wide role linked nicely with Pete and Gravy down the left. Subsequently the ball was crossed in, Jiz flicked it on and Clarkey who arrived late at the back post shot just wide of goal. A nice move and definitely something to build on.

The next 10 minutes of the game were frustrating for us. We unquestionably played some outstanding and attractive football and it was a pleasure to watch. Sadly though, we simply weren’t decisive enough in the final third and often our nicely constructed attacks would break down before they got to the point of seriously threatening the opposing goal. That said, Jiz playing up front for us did an excellent job of holding the ball up and defending from the front.

It was in the 27th minute of the game that Oatlands drew level. James Beckram collected the ball on the left hand side near the halfway line and sought to drive at the Gomshall back line. But, after what seemed like the faintest of touches and girlish yelp, Jim had dramatically hit the deck and OFC had a free kick.

Butler delivered an absolute peach of a ball to around the penalty spot and it was Ross Elliot who got there first with a glancing header that put OFC level. 1-1.

Having scored the goal we looked like we would go on and score a second, our passing movement and general all round play were exceptional and for the next 10 minutes Gomshall were camped in their own half and having to defend their 18 yard box for long periods.

In the 41st minute of the game Gomshall broke down our left with pace and purpose and their 2 strikers busted a gut to get into our box. A looping cross came in from the left hand side beating everyone other than the Gomshall striker at the back post. In a move that looked almost telepathic, the ball was headed back across the box to the other striker who made no mistake with his head from 6 yards. Great goal, 2-1 Gomshall and we were going to need to re-group and consider our options for the second half.

With Phil away for much of the game, injured substitute Baynezy gave the team talk. Apparently our performance in the first half was “sick,” a word that definitely had the desired effect on the team as all those over 20 took it to mean that the performance was bad and all those under 20 felt encouraged as apparently the word “sick” is also a good thing. Ross also talked about some tactical stuff.

We started the second half the way we wanted to and continued in our quest to get back in the game. Again the passing and movement were good, there was lots of positive chat, encouragement from the side and surely a goal was in the post.

In the 48th minute Chris Harper summed up our performance. The ball was cleared high from Gomshall and was in the air for about 4 seconds and with time and space available the grizzly OFC right back stood under the ball, puffed his chest out and adopted the classic “I’m going chest this, and nothings going to stop me” pose. It was textbook…

Up front the chances continued to present themselves, particularly from wide positions and from balls delivered into the box from Pete Butler. Unfortunately though, Ross, Furno and Jiz also managed to miss headers from close range and it looked like it wasn’t going to be our day again.

In the 70th minute of the game. Gomshall won a throw in which was level with the corner of our 18 yard box. Prior to this we had defended these quite well with one of our defenders or Sam Ahern usually sweeping up the danger. But on this occasion the ball evaded everyone and it fell to Jim Beckram who had the choice of letting it go out for a goal kick or letting it run across him and then dribbling or clearing it out. Instead Jim let the frustration of our failures at the other end get to him and he swung his trusty left boot at the ball. Usually, in these situations the ball would hit his standing leg and harmlessly roll away, but on this occasion Jim caught the ball absolutely flush and roofed in to our net from six yards. 3-1 to Gomshall.

Like the encounter earlier in the season against Gomshall, the score did not reflect the balance of the game and we were going to have to put in the best 15 minutes of the season to get anything out of the game and we weren’t helped by the fact that Gomshall are clearly one of the contenders for the promotion spots.

With goals needed, it was time for a change. Off the pitch came Steve Clarke and Chris Harper, both of whom played superbly and on to the pitch came Joe Spooner and Tom Pryce, who was making his first appearance in nearly 6 moths after a terrific debut which sadly saw him pick up a nasty knee ligament injury against Knaphill. Also as part of the tactical shape up Jim Beckram made up a 3 man attack.

We continued to play some superb football, stringing clever passes together and probing the Gomshall back line and it was now obvious that the opposition were clearly tiring as their defending became more and more ragged. The chances came and we continued to fail to convert them and it looked like the after match chat would be “great performance lads, on another day you would have got something.”

In the 86th minute we got the goal that gave us hope. It was a Jim Beckram cross that caused confusion in the Gomshall box and although it was initially defended, the ball fell perfectly for Pete Butler who although close, would need to be extremely accurate with his finish. Pete did everything that was asked of him and finished with a well controlled volley that was low and right into the bottom corner of the net. 3-2 and a ray of light for OFC.

As we sought to gain a precious point from the dying moments of the game the chances continued to fall to us, particularly from Spooner crosses down the left hand side and despite doing absolutely everything else perfectly, Jiz, who was leading the line, just didn’t seem able to find the net.

On the sideline there were quite a few people who were convinced that every time a keeper kicked the ball or we got near the halfway line, the ref would blow up for full time and therefore everytime we got the ball in the Gomshall half the cry from the side was “shoot!!.” Then with no more than 30 seconds on the clock, someone did have a shot from distance. Having picked the ball up on the halfway line Gravy drove at the Gomshall back line and from 25 yards released a shot that was right off the laces. I don’t know whether it was going in but, it caught a deflection on the way and wrong-footed the keeper before hitting the back of the net like a cruise missile. 3-3 and a much deserved point had been earned.

Overall the result probably wasn’t the one that we deserved and on another day things may well have been different, but the performance, teamwork and football were all excellent. There was loads of positive chat, good passing, superb movement and determination that has been absent in recent weeks and if we are to make this season a success, this needs to continue.

Several players could have got the MOM, but ultimately it was a shot from Gravy that saved the day, so the award goes to him. I don’t think I need to mention who picked up the donkey award.

As for Gomshall, they must be gutted about the way things have panned out against us this season. Earlier in the season they had the chances to win, but we somehow took the points and with only seconds remaining in this game they must have thought they had done enough for all three points only to be thwarted again. All the best to them for the rest of the season, a good sporting team to play against, well organised and well supported, lets hope that we get to play them again next year.

This week it was refreshing to have a genuinely good referee in charge. Before the game he told us exactly what to expect, made absolutely clear his stance on the respect campaign and put in an absolutely faultless performance in terms of decision making and consistency.

All in all it caps off a good week for OFC. The last couple of weeks have been extremely difficult for us, especially following the repercussions of the Staines Lammas fixture, but the club has risen above all of that and its extremley pleasing to say that this week the formal affiliation with AFC Brooklands was confirmed with the FA which should guarantee us a supply of yourh players for many years to come and ensures that both clubs are recognised by the FA as forerunners for the provison of both youth and adult football in the local area.

Next week we are up against local rivals AFC Hersham at home, they are flying high in the league and will almost certainly do well against us if we don’t meet the same performance levels as this week. Its at Coronation Rec, it’s a 2pm kick off and it would be great to see all the supporters that came down on Saturday there to support us again.