GEOFF...2-GUN...FURNO...TOM...JARV...ELLIOT...PEEWEE...ROSS...MIKE...JIM B(1)...STEW(1)...ROB...HARPS... JACK (1)

After a well deserved four week break, it was back to action for the mighty OFC on Saturday. This week's opponents were Milford and Witley a team who we beat 3-0 earlier in the season and a team that we play every year in various guises.

We had to win this week in order to keep our promotion chances alive, but there were many obstacles that we might have to overcome in order to bag another 3 points. Firstly the long break and extra eating were more than apparent at this week's poorly attended training session, as some players struggled with the pre training warm up. Secondly, with the exception of Shalford Park, this is probably the most difficult pitch to play on in the league and thirdly M+W's Premier League team had the week off giving them every right to put out a much stronger “B” side if they needed. Finally we were managerless this week with Emma taking Phil on holiday to Eastbourne for his birthday and to look at retirement homes.

Just the one change to this week's starting 11 and it was a return to the team of Bozz, who replaced Jordy. The result of which was a return to centre midfield for Ross and Bozz playing along side Furno at the back. It was also great to see a return for our pace and goal machine, Jack Hillier who has been off since October with an ankle ligament injury.

This week's line up. Geoff, Jarv, Bozz, Furno, 2-Gun, Mike, PeeWee, Ross, Elliot, Djimi and Gravy. On the bench; Barry Harps, Hamish, Rob, Jack.

As described earlier the pitch at M+W is always a nightmare and I don't think we have ever played there when it hasn't rained for at least a week before hand. Its also got some good contours to it and is ultra soft underfoot, culminating in the most power sapping 90 minutes of football you will play.

The game got underway on a windy, drizzly and dull afternoon and it was immediately clear that this contest would not be a thing of beauty. The conditions made it difficult to turn on the ball and short passing would be difficult.

The opening 5 minutes were fairly open with both teams coming to terms with the conditions, there weren't any real chances to speak of, bar one that fell onto the left foot of Mr Beckram and was very tamely struck wide.

Milford and Witley were well up for the fight and despite their lowly league position they were quick, skillful and lively up front and looked solid at the back. In midfield they had the big bald chap who used to play for their “A's”.

We looked like a team that hadn't played or trained for a month and our passing and decision making were somewhat indecisive, we were also far too slow in reacting to or anticipating situations.

It looked from the side like it was our indecisiveness that gifted M+W the lead. A ball came straight down the middle and there looked to be indecision between keeper and central defence, Geoff cleared the ball to the centre circle, but straight to an M+W player. Defensively, we seemed confused by the striker who tried to close down Geoff, because despite being miles offside, he clearly was not interfering with the play. A ball came straight down the middle splitting our centre halves and the other striker latched onto it and finished with a stunning long range shot. 1-0 and we were wobbling.

From the re-start we simply struggled in all departments. From the side it was extremely frustrating to watch, but given the factors such as the pitch, the long break and the lack of practice it was understandable. A feature of some of our recent performances has been our passing game, seemingly gone are the days of long balls from back to front with a reliance on pace, but for much of the first half we hoofed the ball long and high from deep leaving Djimi and Gravy to chase the ball down or try and hold it up among a swarm of defenders. Far too often our short passes were inaccurate or lacked conviction and as such were easily intercepted by the opposition. Subsequently we were subjected to quite a bit of pressure.

Midway through the first half we very nearly went 2-0 down. A corner was met well by an M+W head and was miraculously headed over the cross bar by an OFC defender. A lucky escape.

We should have equalized shortly after. Gravy was sent clean through, but the flag went up, despite the flag the referee waved play on, Gravy committed a bit of sin and stopped momentarily before being encouraged to play on. His finish was indecisive and failed to trouble the goal.

The Milford and Witley front 2 caused us a number of problems and our rustiness was apparent as we were often too slow to react and gave them the time and space they needed to turn on the ball or pick out a pass.

Going forward we were not terribly effective, given the slopey nature of the pitch we found it difficult to get Elliot involved or make use of his ability to beat players and put in crosses. Our problems were further compounded when injury forced him to leave the pitch 10 minutes before half time. We subsequently bought on big Barry Harps and put him up front. Djimi went out to play on the left.

2-Gun cooked up a great comedy moment in the latter stages of the first half. We gained a free kick on the right hand side and about level with the penalty spot, Jarv made a run from left back to the edge of the penalty area and was unmarked and screaming for the ball, after what seemed an eternity 2-Gun chipped the ball about 15 yards straight to the feet of M+W player and they were off on an attack.

As a team we were clearly trying our best but we were simply playing rubbish, we would do all the hard work like winning the ball and then just give it away or make a poor decision, we would then find ourselves under pressure.

We trudged in to the break deservedly 1-0 down.

Half time was a bit of a debacle. Without Phil there was more debate and input than we get from the AGM with players and even supporters wanting their say on how to sort the mess out. I think the conclusion reached by the committee was that we needed to play better and have at least one shot on target.

We kicked off the second half and still looked a shadow of the team we have often been this season. In fact we were still very poor and looked like a very mediocre outfit. M+W gained a lot of confidence from our performance and were probably guilty of being over confident in their approach, taking the mickey out of us as the skipped past our challenges and created chances.

10 minutes into the second half and we began to find our stride. With Harps' height and ability in the air, we sought to hit the penalty spot from deep and from free kicks to try and lure out the keeper or use Harps' height. Jarv put in some superb balls and M+W began for the first time to feel just a little more pressure.

M+W had 2 chances in quick succession to put the game beyond doubt, but the brilliance of Geoff in goal meant the score stayed at only 1-0.

This season we have developed character, something we have sorely lacked in any great quantity in previous seasons and already we have come from being behind to win 3 times this year. Our opposition were second from bottom and have won only twice this year. As a team we know how difficult it is to hang on to a slender lead when you haven't won in a long time. It seemed to me that the longer this one went on at only 1-0 the more M+W would start to feel the pressure. All we needed to do was to find a reason to make them feel that pressure.

We were beginning to look like we might find an equalizer with 20 minutes gone in the second half. Despite still not having a shot on target. We were now winning the majority of challenges in the midfield and the game was being played more and more in the M+W half. We had also forced a series of corners and Harps had come close with a header.

With 25 minutes of the second half we were seriously revved up and desperately wanted a goal. All across the pitch the only voices you could hear were either OFC players or supporters and with the M+W attacking threat gone, they were now camped in their own half, and it was their turn to have a deathly silence across the team.

It was Mike who finally unlocked the M+W back four properly, after he and PeeWee had done a lot of work that had not really resulted in anything down on the right hand side, Mike finally found time and space to square the ball across to Djimi. Without breaking stride Djimi finished for his 5th of the season with a low drilled shot and we were level. 1-1

From the re-start we were well aware that a draw was pretty much worthless to us and we were pretty ruthless in our pursuit of further goals. Again we were very vocal and the OFC supporters did their best not only to encourage our team but also to give the M+W players a bit of banter as well.

With 15 minutes left it was one way traffic as the opposition sought to cling on for a draw despite losing both centre halves and we desperately sought a victory. Jarv had clearly been carrying an injury for a long time in the second half and we decided to make a change. Despite having only attacking players on the bench we were easily able to manage the injury and Jack came on and went straight up top and Harps, being an experienced defender took Jarv's place at left back.

It looked like it was going to be one of those days up front for Gravy when he missed another very good chance from a one on one, but he very quickly made up for it moments later when his own excellent run from deep was picked out by a superb Beckram through ball that carved open the M+W back four. With just the keeper to beat Gravy rushed through and took his shot early, the ball beat the keeper but could it actually find the net this time? The sideline fell silent as we waited, Stew appeared to turn around as if he had missed and then the ball nestled in the net for our second, Gravy's 7 th of the season and OFC's 200th League goal. 2-1 OFC.

With the game as good as won, our stand in player manager Djimi immediately took off Gravy and replaced him with Rob Hunter.

There was a slight break in play as the match ball was kicked into the woods and after some arguing we agreed to let the match continue with one of our training balls. However the break did nothing to prevent our pursuit of a third goal and the game continued to be played in the M+W half.

It was great to see Jack back in action for the team after what was a fairly lengthy lay off and it was pretty apparent from the moment he came on what we have been missing since the 7 th October as his pace left the M+W back line for dead. He quickly got his reward with 5 minutes left when another great through ball left him with just the keeper to beat. It was like he'd never been away as he put the game beyond doubt. 3-1 OFC and a 5th goal in 6 games for Jack.

The ref bought the game to a close signaling another crucial 3 points for OFC.

Overall, it was the classic game of 2 halves, one in which we were rubbish and the other in which we were rubbish for 15 minutes and then strong for 30 minutes. For the 3 rd game in a row we have come from behind to win and have now won our last 4 consecutive games. From the side we appeared to want it more than them in the second half and we won. There was probably no outstanding player for us on the day but again we showed a lot of character as a team to turn round another difficult situation into a victory and I am sure that in the past we would have lost this one. I couldn't find a spot in the main report for this, but 2-Guns step overs while in acres of space were pure class and were definitely worthy of a mention.

For the club I think there were 3 records today, 4 consecutive victories, our 200th League goal and a new Oatlands FC record for victories in a season.

Next week we play away to top of the table Pirbright Sports, last time out we should have got a least a point, but for a catastrophic defensive mix up in the last minute of the game. It goes without saying that this one is a must win game, one of the reasons being that not only do we need to stave off those behind us, but also this game presents the opportunity to go second in the table. (Ours is the only league game in our division next Saturday). This one will be tough; they play at Stoke Recreation ground on a pitch so narrow that a long throw is more effective than a corner.

With Jack available again and the likes of Jordy, Dave, Dom, Pod and Sam not available for selection this week, it is getting increasingly tough to get into what is now a very strong and winning side. Please make every effort to get to training on Thursday and make sure that people have to fight for their place each week. Large numbers at training allow us to rehearse and practice the sort of match situations that people indicated they wanted see at the summer AGM.

Please don't forget that the OFC Invitational Golf Society is booked for the 2 nd March 2007, the cost is £30 and includes Golf, breakfast, lunch and the club will provide an engraved claret jug to the overall winner. Anyone associated with the club is welcome to play. Please speak to T-Bone for more info.

Finally a massive thanks to the supporters today, it was a long way to come and your support as ever is very much appreciated by the players. Next week is even more important and we will need all the support we can get.