Oxfordshire Senior League
Premier Division
Saturday 18th September 2021
Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.29
Summertown Stars 6 Marston Saints 2, attendance 63
2’ 1-0
34’ 2-0
36’ 3-0
62’ 3-1
64’ 4-1
70’ 5-1
85’ 5-2 (pen)
87’ 6-2
@ Northway Community Centre
45 Dora Carr Close
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9RF
No Admission or Programme.
Thankfully, I had already been to the second ground on the organised ground hop. I have nothing against Freeland F.C., having enjoyed my visit there, and always feel a bit sorry for whichever club draws the short straw and has to play the Saturday afternoon match on such events, as they invariably attract the fewest spectators. It certainly didn’t help them that they had issued programmes in the past for Oxfordshire F.A. Senior Cup matches, attracting those who have to have a piece of paper to count the match and they had only just dropped down to the Witney and District League from the higher level Oxfordshire Senior League this season. The final nail in the coffin was the fact that various other matches could be reached and still give time to get to Hanborough for the 17.00 kick off, where the ‘hop would be rounding off the day.
I opted for the match at Summertown Stars, as I could comfortably make it to Hanborough in 25 minutes from there. One ‘hopper tried to give me a bum steer by claiming that Oxford Irish Athletic F.C. had tweeted this morning that they were playing at Northway this afternoon, so Summertown can’t be playing there, (I won’t name the former resident of Oxford now residing near a shopping outlet village off Junction 9 of the M40), but it was a blatant lie. The club hadn’t tweeted for 3 days! I knew it wasn’t true,( I already knew that OIA weren’t even playing at home today) and Summertown had already confirmed they were indeed playing there. Are some people that stupid that they think others are incapable of checking things for themselves. Obviously some are! Even if the evening match was brought forward at short notice, which has been done before on Groundhop U.K. events, I would still get there.
The ground here was much better than I was expecting and was quite pleasant considering the area it is in. Unusually, the visitors had a shorter distance to travel to the suburb of Headington than the hosts did, for this East Oxford derby. Summertown had started the season with a 6-2 home win and a 4-5 away defeat, whilst Marston had lost their only match played so far 0-6.
It was unlikely that this game would fail to produce a goal, at least judging by the previous score lines and within two minutes the opener duly arrived for the hosts, when a cross from the right was swept in from 6 yards. The second goal came after 34 minutes, although it looked well offside, then two minutes later a penalty made it 3-0, the home No.9 completing his hat trick from the spot.
Marston reduced the arrears when a shot on the turn from close range made it 3-1, but the three goal cushion was restored a couple of minutes later, before a cross from the right was put in at the far post to make it 5-1 with twenty minutes left. Five minutes from time Marston pulled it back to 5-2 with a penalty, but a quick response from Summertown saw a 25 yarder loop over the ‘keeper to make it 6-2.
It could be a long season for Marston, if they can’t tighten up at the back, but if it’s goals you’re after, then Summertown are the team to watch. Their three matches have now produced 25 goals.
