Abbey United 2 Oxford United 0 - Saturday 22 November 2008
You could be forgiven for thinking I had made this, and the previous results up, especially if you are aware of our history. I am yet to check the official Moosenet/Abbey United records, but I think this is the first time we have kept successive clean sheets!
It was a very, very, VERY cold morning as we arrived at Coldhams Common. Colder than Siberia according to a Daily Mail headline I read earlier in the day. Only a matter of time before they come over here, stealing our snow then.
We only had 11 players (not having subs in these games makes it very hard!) and the midfielders that had worked so well last weekend had to be completely changed, as Frankie and Andy were both unavailable. George came in as goalkeeper, meaning that Mark and Mark could reform their normally unsuccessful centre back partnership. Hero of the first hour last week, Lance, returned to play again at left back, seemingly with no intention to leave early to go to watch a United away game!! "Shagger" (real name James) came in for his debut.
GK: George Blackwell, RB: Richard White, LB: Lance Sharman, CB: Mark Case, CB: Mark Bentley, CM: Richard French, CM: James Munroe, LM: James Barringer, RM: Andy Lang, FW: Harry Weller, FW: Jamie Bates
Sub: FW: Jack Rogers
There was a biting wind as well as the freezing cold to deal with in the first half. Maybe we were in Siberia after all. Good football is hard enough on a normal day, but in these conditions it was near enough impossible. Every Oxford goal kick went out for a throw and every ball forward from us was too hard. The Oxford keeper made a great save from a long range shot from Jamie. We played well, all considered, and had a few other half chances. The most notable action of the first half was James going down with an injury after a tackle. He hobbled off and it was looking like we would have to play with ten, until a few minutes later Jack who had turned up late quickly got changed and we were back to eleven!
Half time 0-0
There were no real changes to make at half time, apart from Jack going up front and Richard moving to left wing to allow Jamie to come into the centre of midfield.
This move seemed to work eventually, but a tight start to the second half followed as, once again, each side struggled to cope with the wind and cold!
Abbey United defended well, and got their chance after an hour, Jamie Bates holding on to the ball well and making space to hit a low shot into the bottom corner form 20 yards. United were coping with playing against the wind a lot better than Oxford did and it was 2-0 with 15 minutes to go.
A contender for goal of the season as the goalkeeper George rolled the ball out, and Whitey played it forward. The ball went in from "Shagger" on the wing leaving Harry Weller with a virtually open goal. Arsenal would have been proud. Well, maybe not proud exactly, but certainly envious. Oxford pressed a bit more after this, but we held on for another clean sheet.
Final score 2-0
We continue our move up the table next week, at home to Ebbsfleet, a side we beat last year, and hopefully the same set of lads that have played so well in the last couple of weeks will be there again. Abbey United, (currently) miles better than Cambridge United.
Mark Case
Fr more information about Abbey United, visit their website www.abbeyunited.co.uk
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AT081209
