After last weeks very tough encounter with AFC Hersham, things were not going to be any easier as we faced off against AFC Woburn, who needed just a point from the game in order to claim the GWAFL Division 2 title.

It goes without saying that there would be changes this week, but this week there were just two and they were both in defence and with Furno and Pete Hallam both unavailable, Dom and Sonny were drafted in.

The team; Will, Dom, Sonny, Fraz, Tom, Baynezy, Butler, Mike, Joe, Pod andd Jim. Jiz and Jordy on the bench.

Prior to kick off we were well aware that the danger would almost certainly be coming from the Woburn no.7 but with Dom in the team we knew that he would probably be pretty much man-marked throughout the game and we would have to hope that while we were choking him, we might be able to grab a goal and make life difficult for Woburn.

We started the game brightly and were much the better team for the opening 20 minutes of the game. Although possession was fairly even, it was Oatlands who were crisper in their passing and used the ball to better effect.

Our first strike on goal came as early as the 3 rd minute. Good build up play in midfield involving Pete Butler resulted in the ball finding its way to Pod who was in a promising position and with time and space to shoot. Although Pod’s shot was on target, it was enough to beat the Woburn keeper.

Woburn received another couple of frights in the first 20 minutes, Spooner flashed one across the six yard box which we were unlucky to get on the end of, he then had a shot across goal which went just wide of the far post and a box to box run from right back Tom Pryce deserved more – his shot from 20 yards going just wide.

Woburn ’s tactics were heavily focused on getting no.7 on the ball and they mixed up a passing game with some very direct football. Whenever no.7 did get on the ball he was anabsolute thorn in the side of our back four, using his ability on the ball and pace to try and work an opening in or around the penalty area. Woburn would have considered themselves desperately unlucky not to get a penalty when Dom ran across the back of the no.7, clipped his ankles and caused the player to stumble badly and lose possession. A fall to the ground surely would have resulted in a pen.

Overall in the first half we were very solid in all areas of the pitch. We defended extremely well at the back and looked unlikely to concede. In midfield we were industrious when not in possession and used the ball nicely when in possession. Up front there was good movement. The only criticism was our over eagerness to play an early killer ball.

It was late in the half when Oatlands should have scored. Having broken down a Woburn attack, we hoofed the ball out of defence toward the halfway line, there was a rare mix up between the Woburn centre backs and the ball fell kindly to Pod who was left with the task of carrying the ball from the centre circle to the Woburn box and then beating the keeper. Steve did all the first parts of the task correctly, he cut across the only Woburn defender in the vicinity to make a challenge virtually impossible and from 12 yards out it was just a caseof pulling the trigger and reeling off to celebrate. Unfortunately when Pod did pull the trigger, his shot was in more danger of breaking something in the car park than the back of the net.

From the start of the second half, AFC Woburn turned up the pressure and we struggled to make many inroads in an attacking sense. Although we weren’t initially under a massive amount of pressure, we simply couldn’t find any gaps to exploit in and around their half of the pitch and Woburn were also picking up many of the second balls in midfield. Sadly for Woburn, it was about 5 minutes into the second half that they were forced to make a change following a serious knee injury.

Shortly after we too were forced to make a change and like the horse he picked in the Grand National, Jim Beckram pulled up lame citing a knee injury and we sent on Jiz as his replacement.

It was after about 10 minutes of the restart that we found ourselves fending off a succession of attacks from Woburn. Our main problem was the fact that we were defending well, but asuccession of our goal kicks were won in midfield and we were forced very much on to the back foot. Woburn’s attacks were again centred on the getting their no.7 on the ball which made life very tricky for us.

Despite the pressure we defended superbly. On numerous occasions, Dom playing his first game since November was first to the ball both in the air and when it was there to be contested in a challenge. Sonny and Fraz made several key interceptions when it looked like Woburn were through on goal and Tom played in a way that ensured that very little got through down the right hand side of the pitch.

It was in midfield that the majority of the game was being fought out and that meant that Mike Taylor was bound to be heavily involved and bound to be involved in some form of controversy. Last time out against Woburn he managed to earn a second successive red card after pushing the referees patience on too many occasions, but today was a much more level headed performance in which he did more to frustrate the Woburn midfield more than the referee. He was aided by Pete Butler who was found himself in more of a battling capacity than his preferred role of creator.

It was with about 10 minutes left that Woburn made the decisive breakthrough and it was a goal worthy of winning any match. No.7 received the ball just about in an onside position and drove hard down in to the right hand corner of the pitch (from an attacking perspective), despite the attention of Dom, Fraz and Sonny, the Woburn attacker wriggled like an eel to beat all three players before cutting into the box. There was still plenty for the player to do as he made his way toward the penalty spot but he finished well with a swivelling shot that left Will with no chance 1-0.

The last 10 minutes were frantic and it turned into an end to end encounter. Almost directly from the restart we went to 3 at the back and it nearly paid off immediately as Jordy broke down the right hand side and cut the ball back to the penalty spot where Pod was waiting. A goal looked certain, but it wasn’t Pod’s day and his shot was caught right off the laces, but went just over. We also had another chance shortly after when Spooner crossed it in and Butler’s swivelling volley went just wide.

Down at the other end Woburn might have increased the lead on a couple of occasions. They had shot from distance that dipped just after it had shaved the bar, a volley from very close range that went just over and a header from a free kick at the back post which went just wide.

With neither team able to change the score the referee bought the game to a close.

Overall it was a very strong performance from us and we were desperately unlucky not to get a point out of the game. We matched Woburn in every area of the pitch and had some clear cut chances that we failed to put away. But in the end it was a great individual goal that was the difference between the 2 teams and it was a victory that propels AFC Woburn to the league title, so congratulations must go to them.

Overall it was a game that probably summed up our season. We have been a match for pretty much anyone in the league, been extremely difficult to break down, but a glance at the “goals scored” column of the league table tells you everything about where our problems lie.

This week Man of the Match was a tough choice the back four were all contenders, but ultimately it was another exceptional central midfield performance from Mike Taylor that won it.

Next week we are up against Spethorne Sports. Last time we played them, we put in a poor performance and they ran out comfortable winners despite going down to 10 men. They also won 11-0 on Saturday, so the momentum will be very much with them. Due to the closure of all Elmbridge Council owned pitches for summer sports, this game will be played at West Byfleet Rec.

Thanks to those who came along to support.