This Saturday Oatlands played their last fixture in what has been an up and down season. This week’s opponents were M+W who seem to be going through some tough times at the moment and are currently propping up the table.

We had a very strong side available this week with Jim Beckram and Pete Butler both returning to the starting line up.

This week’s team; Sam in goal. Fraz, Baynezy, Sonny and Furno at the back. Joe, Butler, Mike and Tom in midfield. Jim and Pod up front. On the bench. Jordy, Jiz, Clarkey, Will and 2-Gun

We got off to a blistering start in the game and dominated the early exchanges. Despite rather lengthy grass on the pitch, the likes of Pete Butler, Pod, Baynezy and Tom all found spaces to exploit with their passing and M+W were left to chase shadows for long periods of time.

Despite getting off to an excellent start and the fact that we got into numerous promising positions, we were just lacking a goal to show for our efforts and you could sense a small amount of frustration kicking in. This wasn’t helped by the fact that the referee seemed to be giving all his decisions to the home team.

It was in the 15 th minute that a 15 minute OFC goal frenzy kicked off. We had got ourselves in many promising positions already and had been thwarted by the keeper, some great M+W defending and the lino, but the goal that opened the scoring was unstoppable. I think it was an exchange of passes with Mike Taylor that got the ball to Pete Butler’s feet in the middle of the M+W half. With time and space available Pete drove in to the space and unleashed an unstoppable missile of a shot toward the goal from distance. The keeper had no chance as the ball flew into the top corner and it was 1-0.

A second goal followed 2 minutes later. This time the ball was crossed from the right hand side to where Joe was waiting at the back post. All Joe had to do was pull the trigger, but a moment’s hesitation allowed the keeper to get across and intervene. Thankfully the ball broke loose to Pod, who made no mistake from six yards and stabbed it home for 2-0.

With us 2-0 up, it was all Oatlands and the chances were coming from all angles. Perhaps the only reason that it didn’t go to 3-0 sooner was due to the fact that the lanky M+W no 6 kept chopping our players down, in particular Pete Butler. We didn’t have to wait to long though, because a break down the left hand side from Fraser resulted in a superb cross to the back post where Jordy was waiting. Players of Jordy’s calibre don’t make mistakes in pressure situations and Jordy drilled it home to make the score 3-0 after 25 minutes.

At the other end of the pitch there hadn’t really been much to deal with for the defence. Anything in the air was generally dealt with by Furno and anything on the floor was generally dealt with by Sonny’s pace and tenacity. There wasn’t much coming from the wide positions so Fraz and Baynezy occasionally pitched in, but were more involved in a an attacking sense.

It was in the 32 nd minute that we made it 4-0. For the umpteenth time this year it was Pete Butler who supplied the assist, this time playing the perfect through ball to Jim who timed his run to perfection. With just the keeper to beat, Jim took the shot early and beat the advancing keeper from just outside the box. 4-0.

At 4-0 up we were clearly beginning to show a bit of over confidence and everyone was rushing up front to try and get in the action. We were in effect playing parts of the game with what looked like a 4-2-4 formation (or as Sam said, a 3-2-7). The result of this loss of discipline and shape was a loss of control in the game. Suddenly there were a few gaps in front of what should have been our back four and in wide areas where the full backs should have been. We were also finding too many players in some areas and a lack of available players in other areas and the system seemed to have broken down.

Going into half time it was clear to see the anger building up in Phil, and although the players didn’t know it, he was probably going to be using the “C” word and telling people off.

At half time the discussion was all about discipline and shape and how adopting these two things would allow us to regain control of the game.

Following half time, it was a bit of a stuttering start to the second half. We played well in parts, passing it nicely and looking dangerous and at other times we looked slightly sloppy giving the ball away a little too easily. We were also now up against a Milford and Witley linesman who seemed to put his flag up every time we kicked the ball forward. It seemed like there might not be any choice other than to shoot from distance or to dribble the ball in.

For a long period in the second half, it looked like the game might end at 4-0 as we didn’t look like scoring, M+W also looked far from convincing against our very strong back four and the ball seemed to be bogged down in the midfield area. With a good midfield battle there are usually a few tasty tackles and this was no exception, for us hard man Tim Furnival was battering anyone that ventured into his territory, Mike Taylor also got in on the action. For M+W, no6 gave the likes of Jim Beckram and Pete Butler a good kicking, while the referee did give a few free kicks for some of the tackles on Pete, he was yet to be convinced by any of Jim’s theatrics and the accompanying sound effects.

With about 25 minutes left Pod was substituted, bringing to a close a very good season. In his place our ex-penalty taker, 2-Gun.

With about 20 minutes left, it was Mike Taylor who got us back on track. After bursting from midfield, Oatlands own Javier Mascherano found time and space to take a shot from around the penalty spot and the shot found the bottom corner. OFC were now 5-0 up.

Our next goal came from the spot. It looked like Jim had trodden on an invisible mine, his legs had been blown off and he made the sort of howling noise you would expect from someone who had been shot in the kneecaps. The referee was extremely impressed and gave a penalty. Needless to say Pete Butler continued his faultless run from the spot and converted it for 6-0.

The next goal was what Jim Beckram would describe as a textbook strikers finish. Baynezy supplied the assist after breaking down the right hand side. Jim made a great run across the defence and to the near post and converted Baynezy’s low cross with a classic strikers finish. 7-0.

The most amusing moment of the game came close to the end. Mike had the ball at his feet and was receiving some very close attention from the M+W no.6. I think the M+W player clipped Mike’s ankle, but that was the final straw for Mike and he stopped his run, picked up the ball and threw it at the opposition player in a tantrum.

Mike may have been upset, but he got his revenge shortly before the end after rounding off the scoring to make it 8-0. It might have been more but Fraser showed the manager why he is better at defending the goal than scoring, after he skied it from 3 yards.

It ended 8-0 to us and it was a good way to end an up and down season. Overall it was a good performance, if we had maintained our shape and discipline in the middle part of the game, it could have been many more. We never looked like conceding and I am not sure that M+W even had a shot. For us Mike Taylor emerged as the man of the match capping off a superb back end of the season in which he has been one of the most consistent players in the team.

Unfortunately it looks like M+W will probably go down at the end of the season, meaning that for the first time in many years we won’t get to play them next year. Obviously we’d like to wish them the best of luck and hope they can bounce back.

Other results in the division didn’t go our way meaning that we finish 6 th in the league. We have at times been outstanding this season, and although defensively we have been very consistent, we seem to have lacked the goals to push on and threaten the top three.

A big thanks to all those that came down to support, not only on Saturday, but throughout the season – your support is very much appreciated and doesn’t go unnoticed.

Next up for OFC is the OFC Legends. The match is on the 9 th of May and its an opportunity to see living OFC gods like; “the Cat” Dan Sheridan, Goulash, PeeWee and Chris “Cafu” Ewan back on the pitch. It will almost certainly be the toughest game OFC will play all season, so please feel free to come along to support. Afterwards there will be a BBQ, a presentation to recognise those that have played well this year and music, dancing and beer afterwards. Please note that there will be a cost, but it is only to cover costs, and any left over funds go straight back into supply equipment for the players. If you’re a living OFC Legend and we haven’t heard from you and you want to play, please get in contact.