Oxfordshire Senior League

Premier Cup Semi Final

Saturday 22nd May 2021

Kick Off 17.00 Actual 16.59

Yarnton 0 Kennington Athletic 1, attendance 87

79’ 0-1

@ Littlemarsh Playing Fields

Green Lane

Yarnton

OX5 1QE

No Admission or Programme.

I never visited Yarnton when they played in the Hellenic League, although as it is 23 years since they dropped down, after having spent seven seasons at the higher level, then perhaps it’s not that surprising. With the late kick off here, due to the Reserves also being at home today, this was the perfect time to visit, especially as it was only 40 minutes drive north from my afternoon match at Goring United. Kennington were actually drawn at home in the tie, but due to unavailability of their ground it meant the match was switched to Yarnton.

It was a game of few chances, but Kennington were the better side for the majority. Yarnton did have a shot that hit the post with the ‘keeper well beaten, but the visitors had missed a number of good chances that should have seen them out of sight. It looked like we might be heading for extra time, until a Kennington striker nipped in front of a Yarnton defender and shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net, to win it for the visitors with eleven minutes left. They now face Launton Sports in the final on Bank Holiday Monday at Old Woodstock Town.

Thames Valley Premier League

Division 2

Saturday 22nd May 2021

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Goring United 8 Twyford & Ruscombe 1, attendance 30

8’ 1-0

10’ 1-1

21’ 2-1

30’ 3-1

54’ 4-1

65’ 5-1

73’ 6-1

83’ 7-1

90’+ 3, 8-1

@ Sheepcot Field

Gatehampton Road

Goring

RG8 0EN

No Admission or Programme.

With the amount of teams now failing to fulfill fixtures, it was a case of finding a game with something on it, although even that can’t be enough to guarantee games will actually take place at the moment. The game wasn’t being played at their normal ground in Upper Red Cross Road, due to cricket taking over there, but was some 400 yards away, on the other side of the railway line, at a ground that is also home to the local tennis club. I wasn’t able to confirm the game was definitely going ahead, so set off more in hope than expectation. Goring did reply to my text that the game was indeed on…..but, three minutes into the match!

Goring were second in the league table, where any of the top five teams could still make the two promotion places. Twyford & Ruscombe were second from bottom, but a single win could see them climb two places, so relegation is certainly not guaranteed. An early free kick put Goring ahead, but a deflected shot brought the visitors level within two minutes. By halftime it was 3-1, as a header from a corner, and an angled shot across the ‘keeper put Goring in command and an early second half goal for the hosts put the points beyond doubt. Twyford & Ruscombe battled well throughout, but had nothing to offer in attack. Four more goals rounded off an emphatic 8-1 win for Goring, although it wasn’t as easy as the score line suggests.