April 15, 2022
Following their draw against promotion rivals Dartford as reported in these diaries two weeks ago, Oxford City continued their promotion bid with a 2-0 win at rivals Dulwich Hamlet in front of an incredible crowd of 3,334 to consolidate their position in 6th place and reduce the gap to 3rd place to 4 points.
Today’s visitors on Good Friday were Hungerford Town, whose visit to Oxford City in December 2019 was featured in these diaries.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2020/01/oxford-city-3-2-hungerford-att-328.html
Hungerford are perhaps a side who are punching above their weight by being competitive in National League South with, at 454, having the third lowest average home attendance in the league. They were in the Hellenic League as recently as 2009 but three promotions, concluding with a victory in a play-off against Leamington Town saw Hungerford achieve a place in National League South for the 2016/17 season. Their first season at Level 6 saw a 6th place finish, but they struggled after this, with consecutive 19th place finishes, before being bottom when the 2019/20 season was terminated due to the pandemic. However, 2020/21 saw an improvement, lying in7th place when the season was cancelled, and they have continued that form this time around, going into today’s match in 8th place and only separated from a play-off place on goal difference.
Hungerford have shown they are capable of beating the best, having recorded victories over the current top 4 sides, winning 3-2 at home to Maidstone United, and 2-1 against Dartford, whilst 2-1 away wins came at Dorking Wanderers and Ebbsfleet. The previous encounter between these two sides saw Oxford City come away with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to a goal in the 88th minute, and which by some accounts was a feisty, bad-tempered affair.
The undoubted star for Hungerford this season has been ex-Southampton, MK Dons, Telstar and Yeovil striker Ryan Seager, who has scored 26 times, to be leading goal-scorer in National League South.
Oxford City have launched a special offer for their last three matches of the season, which can be watched for just £20, which also includes programmes, a food item and a free-drink. I chose to pay the £12 advance ticket for just this match ! However, having paid in advance I left my wallet at home and took just a £20 note to the match. Arriving at the ground, the club’s car park was full so I had to park in the car park next door, which is free on Saturdays. Unfortunately, despite it being a public holiday, the normal Friday charge of £1 for 3 hours applied, which I confirmed with a phone call. Luckily, a guy in the queue for the ticket machine took pity on me and gave me a £1 coin with the wishes of “Happy Easter”. I offered to buy him a pint inside the ground but he told me not to worry !
Weather at the 3pm kick-off was sunny and was edging over 20 degrees, and the breeze was distinctly hot. A good job I left my overcoat at home !
Oxford City started the game with several probing attacks, against which the Hungerford defence were equal too, with centre-back Kyle Bailey making a couple of decisive tackles. Hungerford had started with a 5-4-1 formation, with Seager as the loan attacker although Wanjau-Smith was looking to support down either wing. The first shot on goal occurred in the 7th minute but Joe Iaciofano’s long range effort was easily saved by Hungerford keeper Cairney.
Hungerford responded with a couple of long throw ins, which came to nothing, in between which a promising run by McEachran was ended by a good tackle by Andre Burley, who is on loan from Wycombe Wanderers.
The visitors first decent move occurred in the 19th minute, when a great piece of skill in a tight space from Wanjau-Smith took him between two City defenders but when challenged by the next defender he went to ground, and despite the appeals for a penalty, the referee waved play on. Another good move from Hungerford put Evans in space down the left wing, but his low cross was steered well wide by Seager in front of the near post.
After this flurry from the Crusaders, the home started to get on top. Forward Benyon sent a delicate chip from just inside the area narrowly over the bar with keeper Cairney stranded, then a flowing first touch move saw Iaciofano cut-back and shoot tamely at the Hungerford keeper, ignoring the great run into space by Ashby.
Hungerford sent a low cross from the right wing which evaded everyone, and then a lack of communication between City Keeper Dudzinski and Rowan almost enabled Wanjau-Smith to capitalize.
Due to the heat, the referee called for a drinks break after half an hour, which seemed to take a bit of the energy out of the game. The first yellow card was brandished in the 38th minute when Bailey scythed down Fleet, and Ram soon joined him in incurring the referee’s displeasure.
With 5 minutes to go to the interval, Iaciofano sent a curling shot from just outside the area a foot over the Hungerford bar, after which Burley sent a delightful chip to towards the far post for Hungerford full-back Curtis Angell to head across goal but narrowly wide. However, the linesman’s flag was raised so it wouldn’t have counted.
The opening goal finally arrived two minutes before the break. A long ball out of defence put Iaciofano in space down the left channel, and this time he looked up and spotted Reece Fleet heading towards the far post, and his inch perfect pass saw the City midfielder slam the ball into the roof of the net.
That wasn’t the end of the first half action though, as Hungerford wing-back Tyler made a strong run down the right in added on time, and his pass to Seager saw the league’s top scorers left footed effort tipped around the post by the City shot-stopper.
On the balance of play City probably deserved to have the half-time lead, but Hungerford started the second half strongly and dominated the opening 5 minutes, forcing two corners and then after Wanjau-Smith won a free-kick on the angle of the penalty area, Evans free-kick into the danger zone could only be pushed out by Dudzinski as far as Burley, whose first-time response was hacked clear by a City defender not far from the goal-line.
Shortly afterwards, Hungerford were awarded another free-kick on the edge of the City area, but this time Seager’s effort was deflected for a corner, from which City survived a huge scramble in their area, and then were able to launch a counter attack to break and win a corner of their own.
The end-to-end play continued as the Hungerford keeper saved a header from the corner and quickly sent the ball upfield where Wanjau-Smith’s flicked header put Seager into a good position. Hoops ex Sibenik full-back Dasilva was able to hold him up, and wisely chose not to dive in to risk a penalty as Seager went past him, but by then the City defence had been able to regroup and crowded out the Crusaders’ striker.
The all-action start to the half continued when McEachran’s clever short pass gave Iaciofano the space to turn and shoot from 12 yards out, but his effort went just over the bar. Hungerford then produced their best move of the match, Wanjau-Smith went on a jinking run, squared the ball to Willmoth on the edge of the area, who was aware enough to lay-off a short pass to put Tyler clear inside the right side of the Hoops penalty area, but he seemed to be caught between a shot and a cross and his ball went harmlessly off for a goal-kick.
After such a lively opening ten minutes to the half, the pace perhaps inevitably slackened off, and the next chance of the match waited until the 67th minute but Benyon’s diving header from a corner went inches over the Hungerford cross-bar. The pattern of the game then came a little disrupted as both sides started making changes, the first of which was the surprising decision by Hungerford to take off Wanjau-Smith, who had looked their most effective attacking player, and it didn’t look like he had been injured.
In fact, the changes seemed to favour Oxford City, and with 20 minutes to play McEachran made a surging run from half-way but his shot from the edge of the area was well held by the diving Hungerford keeper. Three minutes later Coyle won a free-kick for City on the edge of the Hungerford penalty area after running into Ram, which the referee deemed was a foul. Justice was perhaps served when Coyle’s free-kick sailed harmlessly high and wide.
Another swift counter-attack by the home side saw an incisive pass from Fleet put wing-back Harmon racing down the left from half-way into the penalty area, but after going down under a challenge, the referee declared no foul.
City substitute Kargbo then sent a ferocious shot narrowly wide, shortly after which Hungerford brought on Keith Emmerson, although Greg Lake and Carl Palmer didn’t make the match day squad !
With the clock ticking down, Hungerford were dominating possession but the chances were falling to City on the break. Kargbo sent two more shots just wide, as did Harmon. In between, a shot from Angell was gathered at the second attempt by the sprawling City keeper, and in added on time a dangerous corner looked like Hungerford should score at the back post but the ball somehow went wide.
With 5 minutes of added on time being played, Hungerford keeper Cairney showed good skill to beat Bancroft with a Cruyff turn and then sent a huge cross field pass towards the right wing. City defender Kyprianou attempted to intercept but missed, and Seager controlled on his chest, but unfortunately for the visitors his half-volley went a few feet wide.
The referee blew for full-time shortly after to give the three points to Oxford City in a hard fought game, in which Hungerford perhaps deserved a draw but despite having the league’s leading scorer, lacked a killer instinct in front of goal.
Following their win, Oxford City moved up to 5th in the table, but remained 4 points off third place. Hungerford slipped to 9th in the table, but just 1 point off the 7th placed play-off with three games still to play, tow of which are against sides in the bottom three so they still have everything to play-off.
Oxford City : Dudzinski – Dasilva, Asare, Rowan, Harmon – Coyle, Ashby, Fleet, McEachran ( Kyprianou ) – Iaciofano ( Kargbo, Bancroft ), Benyon
Hungerford Town : Cairney – Tyler, Bailey ( Emmerson ), Berry-Hargreaves, Ram, Angell - Evans, Willmoth ( Wylie ), Burley, Wanjau-Smith ( Acheampong ) - Seager
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf1sBgOg-zs
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