GEOFF...MIKE...JARV...ROB H...ELLIOT...JIM B...DOM...2-GUN.... FURNO... STU... JACK... PEEWEE... JORDIE(1)... STEVEN(1)...POD...ROSS

Last weeks emphatic victory against Merrow was the ideal preparation for what would undoubtedly be a much tougher affair against UniS. This week we were buoyed by the fact that week could put out the exact same starting 11 as last week, effectively keeping a winning formula. It was also pleasing to have a full subs bench that included the returning Dave Ewan and Goulash.

This weeks team, Geoff, 2-Gun, Ross, Furno, Jarv, Jim, Peewee, Mike, Jack, Rob and Stu. On the bench, Goulash, Dom, Dave, Jordip and Elliot.

UniS elected to take the slight slope in the first half and we kicked off. The opening 10 minutes were a poor affair with both teams locked in a midfield battle. Despite having pace and aggression in midfield we really weren't able to get any sort of grip on the game and despite winning the ball on many occasions we found ourselves unable to advance into the UniS penalty area in order to muster up a shot, either because our attacks were halted by their back four or our choice of final ball was poor.

At the back we struggled to organise at times and on a number of occasions a very pacey striker was cutting in too easily from wide positions finding himself with only Furno and Ross to beat. But as you would expect, a tackling machine like Furno is not easy to beat and far too often UniS found the ball being toed away just as they were about to pull the trigger. Joining Furno at centre back for the second match in a row was Ross, a player very much in the Chris Harper mould with big voice and an ability track back win possession and move the ball calmly in the direction of another OFC player.

It was the University who had the first real look in on goal, a cross from the left hand side found a player on the penalty spot, despite a bit of time the strikers effort cleared the bar and we were off the hook.

Recently we have been most successful when attacking via the flanks, but our lack of fluidity when on the ball meant that we were unable to bring Jack into the game as we would have liked, he was also thwarted on a number of occasions by their very good and aggressive left back and getting too heavily involved in a defensive capacity the trench warfare type battle in midfield.

To watch from the side it was a pretty ugly affair and UniS probably pressed us harder when we were in possession than any other team has this year, as a result both sides regularly conceded possession to each other and for both sides it was very often a case that the second touch was a tackle. With both sides seemly intent on attacking via the wings it was one of those games where that was very stop/start due to a lot of ball fetching and throw ins.

With 35 minutes gone the game was pretty much deadlocked with UniS mustering one shot to our zero shots. Up front we had huffed and puffed but had not really received the service or opportunities to test their keeper. Overall our decision making had been pretty poor and far too often our passes were going astray and failing to find another OFC player.

We were rocked 5 minutes before half time when midfield dynamo PeeWee was forced off the pitch with a hand injury. This meant a welcome return for Goulash, playing for the first time this year (but not due to suspension). Bringing Goulash on would probably change the shape of our central midfield, due to the fact the he's more of a collect the ball and do something with it type of player, whereas Mike is more the battling type.

Within moments of coming on Goulash had carved his way through the UniS midfield and put a slide rule pass in to the path of Mike, with just the keeper to beat, Mike's first touch was a shade heavy and allowed the keeper to pounce and the chance was gone. None the less it was a sign of things to come

At half time we were understandably frustrated with our own individual and team performance and by the opposition's resilience. We decided to make one change bring Elliot on for Rob Hunter, who by his own admission had a very subdued first half. Djimi went up front to give the front line some muscle and Elliot went out to wide left, giving us the balance of a left footed player on the left and a right footed player on the right.

The second half kicked off and the same dogged pattern of play continued with both team fighting tooth and nail for everything. That said, we looked more composed in the second half and more of our passes began to find other White shirts. But as with the first half both teams looked to the wings as a means of attack and subsequently it was again a very stop start affair.

OFC were rocked 10 minutes into the second half, when the flight of a speculative shot from distance deceived Geoff and snuck in between his outstretched glove and the crossbar. 1-0 to the UniS

This would be a real test of character for OFC because while it is not the first time we have failed to score first in a game this season UniS would be a much tougher nut to crack than a team such as Lightwater or Merrow.

Going a goal down seemed to have the desired effect on the OFC team and almost immediately we upped our game a level in order to get a foothold in the match. At the back we looked solid, the Uni chose primarily to attack our left hand side but were thwarted by Jarv on virtually every occasion as he won a succession of tackles and headers. Ross and Furno looked more than capable of dealing with the UniS strikers and 2-Gun on the right hand side of defence made numerous interceptions and kept the ball well.

In midfield Elliot was beginning to put together one of his best ever performances in an OFC shirt and created a number of opportunities for himself and other down the left hand side. He also put together a number of mazy runs taking on 2-3 players and then playing a decent pass. On the right hand side Jack still found himself subdued by their left back and very often a simple square ball back into the centre of our midfield seemed the best option where Goulash and Mike were ready and waiting.

20 minutes into the second half we forced to play our final hand as Djimi came off with a dead leg and Jordy replaced him up front.

Midway through the second half we got the breakthrough we needed. Goulash, who is notorious for his ability to walk through an entire team with the ball at his feet and then inexplicably miss the target (and has now learned the phrase “no end product”) finally came good. Picking the ball up in the centre circle, the quick and skillful Hungarian simply ran at the UniS midfield and defence and glided gracefully past all the tackles that came his way. Upon approaching the box he jinked right, shifting the ball on to his favoured right foot and finished emphatically, the ball hitting the roof of the net before the keeper had the chance to dive. An absolute belter of a goal and one a piece.

We seemed to kick on at 1-1, although by no means dominating the game we probably had the edge on our opponents as we went in search of all 3 points. All over the pitch we now looked like a team with confidence and we began to increasingly press the UniS goal. Unfortunately for us, too often we couldn't quite provide that killer ball or their back four simply didn't allow us the space to let off a shot and on more than one occasion we into a decent position only to be forced to play a sideways or backward pass

Up front we looked more dynamic than for much of the game and Jordy and Stu linked well causing the UniS back line a number of problems and as ever we could rely on Stu to defend from the front and chase everything down effectively pinning the University into their own half for long periods of time.

In the centre of midfield Mike was like some form of human terrier and must have covered virtually every blade of grass on the pitch as he sought to get hold of anything that broke loose and challenged for every 50/50 ball. Every time Goulash got hold of the ball the shout from the side was “don't pass it!”

With less than 10 minutes on the clock the game stood in the balance, both sides were effectively reduced to 10 men as UniS had a player who left the pitch through injury and on our right Jack was now reduced to a hobble after an earlier heavy challenge.

OFC hearts were in their mouths with 5 minutes left when a seemly harmless back pass toward Geoff hit a Paul Robinson type bump and the ball evaded his swinging boot. Thankfully unlike Gary Neville's back pass for England , the ball was not goal bound and Geoff was back to smother ball and save the day.

With time ebbing away quickly, we were desperate for a winner and it was likely that the two back to back defeats earlier in the season and a weak result against Lightwater it could really cost us dearly if more points were dropped here.

With probably no more than 30 seconds left on the clock, Jarv chased down a seemingly dead ball that was headed toward the touchline, showing the sort of determination that he showed throughout the game he just got to it and managed to wrap his left boot on the ball and drilled a decent looking cross from just past the halfway line. For the first time in the game the UniS back line failed to react and it was Jordy who was first on the scene, found himself between defence and keeper and managed to get his head on the ball, the keeper was left exposed by his defence and Jordy found the back of the net sparking off huge celebrations on the side. 2-1 to Oatlands and 3 points in the bag.

There was time to restart the game but that was all as the Ref blew the whistle almost instantly to end the match.

Overall it was another gritty performance that was rewarded with a win. This weeks win came because we chased a seemly lost cause and created a chance out of nothing which ultimately won us the game. Over the 90 minutes there was little to separate the sides and a draw certainly would have been a fair result. But I can remember a number of occasions when similar things have happened to us and I think we deserve a bit of luck given our efforts.

From our perspective the first half wasn't the best we have played and things simply didn't happen for us but we stuck to our guns, played as a unit and despite going a goal down we came back and seemed to want it more. Ultimately we were rewarded.

Well done to everyone for today's performance and to Sam for taking role of referee at such short notice. A big salute also goes out to Dom and Dave who for various reasons were not able to get a game from the bench.

We now have an increasingly strong squad of players at OFC and with the likes of Pod, Harps, Nigel, Chris Ewan and Sanz all due back and Tom getting approval from Shalford to join us, competition for places is going to be extremely tough, therefore attendance and a good show at training is critical.

Next week we play away at old foes Addlestone Town in the County Cup, despite knowing a few of them from pubs these games are usually not for the faint hearted and a victory will only come if we apply the same sort teamwork and determination that has seen us grab back to back victories in the league.

A massive thanks to all those that came to support on Saturday, your support is always valued by the club and the players.