T-BONE...DOM...HARPS...FURNO...2-GUN...DAVE E...SUS...OZZIE...INSPECTOR LUDO(1)...JARV(1)...ROB H(1)

After another shocking collapse at the hands of Holmbury last week, things were looking pretty grim going into this week's game. The long term injury and unavailability list continues mount with Alejandro, Chris Ewan, Phil Sweeting, Jim Beckram, Peewee, Sam, Goulash, Nigel, Newlook and Pod not available in the foreseeable future and Jon Stannard and Jack away for this fixture. Oatlands found themselves down to a skeleton crew of 11.

This weeks opposition, Weysiders a team that always beat us and a team against which we always manage to come with some comedy error that gets broadcast across the internet via there website.

This weeks T-Bone, Dom, Jarv, Gargamil, Furno, Ozzy, Sus, Dave, Ludo, Rob and 2-Gun. Recent results suggested that we should adopt a more defensive approach to the game and Phil probably considered playing 10 across the back but we went for a classic 4-4-2.

The game kicked off with Oatlands kicking into the sun and up the gentle slope of the pitch. The game started badly and soon got worse. Having fended off the first Weysiders attack of the game we conceded from the second. A ball was laid off to the edge of the box and a Weysiders player hit a quality strike in to the top corner. 1-0 Weysiders.

We huffed and puffed our way back into the game and began to grow in confidence we even began to pass the ball around a bit. Sus began to get hold of the midfield and we defended solidly. With a good platform to build on, we were able to construct some good attacks coming mainly down the left via Ludo, who has improved every single week.

Oatlands got a deserved equalizer after about 20 minutes. Jarv (who loves a shot) had been given the opportunity to go up front this week, and had a speculative shot from distance which ricocheted off the player trying to block it, and past the despairing keeper. 1-1.

Oatlands continued to play well after the goal and were on top in midfield. Ozzy was involved in just about everything and Sus broke up attacks and moved the ball round nicely. Weysiders plugged away but failed to find themselves in a genuine goal scoring opportunity.

Oatlands were soon 2-1 up. Ludo, who was putting in one of his personal performances of the year was rewarded when a mazy run culminated in a sweetly struck shot from distance out on the left. His shot was struck about as sweetly as you could hope for and proved too hot for the keeper to handle. Great goal and 2-1 to OFC.

We went into half time deserving to lead 2-1 and this was echoed in Phil's team talk, Weysiders weren't as mobile in midfield as Sus and Ozzy and we needed to felt that once there midfield had run out of steam we would get more opportunities in the second half.

At half time Phil said that he wanted us to conserve some energy at the beginning of the second half, but when the second half started we appeared to be almost too casual. As a result we had to sustain ten minutes off solid pressure at the beginning of the second half.

Our back four were awesome. Dom on the right barley lost a tackle, Gargamil gave the back four some much needed composure and a good outlet, Furno hunted down strikers and 2-Gun looked composed on the left. Weysiders were growing very frustrated and vented their frustration on the referee, who despite making a number of questionable decisions, did seem to spread them evenly between the 2 teams.

In a number of our recent games we have been ahead at half time and then gone and lost in the second half. Both games against HSM, Lightwater and Surrey Athletic all come to mind; therefore it was absolutely critical that we kept the lead. Oatlands clearly sensed that this one was there for the taking and after riding out initial pressure early in the second half we rallied well as a team both vocally and physically and began to push back the Weysiders assault.

In most tight OFC games you always suspect that the metaphorical finger is never too far away from the self destruct button, personally I would like to change that, but we wouldn't be the team we are without making it a roller coaster ride for the supporters. Anyway we needed another goal to relieve the pressure and give ourselves a chance to relax a little and that's what we got. A cross from our left hand side was well finished by Rob Hunter who got on the score sheet for the first time this season. 3-1 to OFC and a genuine chance to get 3 points against one of OFC's bogey teams.

The third goal knocked the stuffing out of Weysiders, who offered very little going forward for the rest of the game and instead of focusing their efforts on T-Bone's goal they vociferously complained to the referee who was unquestionably poor, but did divide his poor decisions between both teams.

With a first ever victory against Weysiders looking almost certain, we looked comfortable for the last 10 minutes and saw the game through to a successful conclusion, grabbing a desperately needed 3 points.

Overall it was a good performance from us. Weysiders were looking well below par but we have certainly lost at the hands of much weaker teams in the past. Next week presents an opportunity with Surrey Athletic. This one is likely to be a bitterly fought encounter against a team who won't be short on confidence after winning 11-0 this weekend. Please let Beater and Phil know of your availability and get yourself on ours and Surrey's forum to let them know we are coming to Goldsworth Park this weekend.