Monday 21 February 2011

Harwell Int 0 - 3 Lambourn Sports

Starting Line up: Leno, Langfrey, Rowbottom, Bone, Pleass, A Hendren, Fisher, Prior, M Hendren, Connors, Joyce. Subs: Goodey, Maye, Gr ffin.

The Management duo of Clarke & Mcnally decided to start both Bone & M Hendren after the pair returned from injury this week. Lambourn started the game well with Bone bring a security & confidence into the back four that allowed them to look in total for most of the game.
A centre back partnership of Rowbottom and Bone looks solid and the management were happy to see the two complement each others play. The passing game that the management crave was on display today allowing Lambourn total control of the football for long spells in the game.
Langfrey & A Hendren were combining well on the right & it was after a slick one two between the pair that left Langfrey with the space to pick out a pinpoint cross for in form striker Connors to head home his 3rd goal in 3 games. Joyce was having his best game in a Lambourn shirt to date, The hard working striker showed some fantastic touches, powerful hold up play & was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet.
Prior seems to be playing himself back into form in his preferred centre midfield role & Fisher was outstanding in his last apperance for the club. The skillful Midfielder is moving to the USA & everyone at the club would like to wish him well in the future.
The sides went in at half time with the score only 1-0 but Lambourn deserved to be further in front.

The second half started out in the same manner & Lambourn soon added to the opening goal, Langfrey playing the ball across the box & a clever stepover from Connors allowed M Hendren to smash the ball home from 12 yards. Lambourn's passing game was a pleasure on the eye & the 3rd goal was a real team goal. The entire Lambourn team had a touch of the ball before working it to Connor's who pulled it back for A Hendren to slot home well. The away side now had the game in the bag & made 3 changes Griffin, Goodey & Maye replacing A Hendren, M Hendren & Joyce. The changes allowed Harwell to have some more of the play and they forced Leno into a good save before the end. Lambourn had controlled the game well & they look ready for the tough fixtures ahead.
The league and cup double the target as the club look for promotion this season.

Mom Fisher.

Some bad news came after the Sunday fixture with Langfrey hurting his knee & looks like it could keep him out for the season.

Thursday 17 February 2011

Ardington 1-2 Lambourn after extra time

At no point in this match was it possible to distinguish which was the side challenging for the Division One Championship and which was the side residing in Division Three. And it wasn’t until Ardington went down to 10 men, following an altercation between substitute Rob Joyce and a Lambourn off-pitch substitute, that the First Division side were able to turn the match around. And even then there was nothing to differentiate between the two sides in terms of performance.




Lambourn played with the breeze to their backs in the first half and created the first meaningful opening on 13 minutes when Frazer Joyce beat the Ardington offside trap, but blasted the ball over the corner of bar and post. Two minutes later Josh Cottrell should have put Ardington ahead, but this was the first of two or three occasions when he didn’t find his shooting boots. Wayne Hogan played a great ball out wide to Jonathan Eudell, who jinked past the defence to play the ball to the unmarked Cottrell at the far post, but he took too long to control the ball and his shot was blocked at source.



Andrew Burt in the Ardington goal then made two saves in two minutes, the first an easy collect from a tame shot by Sam Connors, and the second an outstanding dive and stretch to tip over a curling 20 yard shot from Liam Griffith, probably the best save anyone will see this season. Ardington then upped the pressure on Lambourn and with just over 10 minutes of the half remaining they took a deserved lead. Debutant Patrick Howe picked up a loose ball on the left hand side and pushed it through a gap between the full back and the centre back, then rode a lunging tackle from another defender before slotting the ball past the onrushing Dave Leno in the Lambourn goal to score.



Lambourn almost equalised within two minutes when Rocky Rowbottom gathered the ball on the edge of the ‘D’ and, whilst sliding, poked the ball towards the goal only to see it rebound harmlessly off the left hand post. Steve Joyce had a chance, too, before half time, but scuffed his shot wide after Tom Langfrey had headed the ball dangerously back to him across the face of goal



The second half continued in the same vein as the first with both sides equally matched, although there was not a lot in terms of goalmouth action for the first 30 minutes of the half. But then came the altercation and the sending off, which ultimately changed the dynamic of the game, although it wasn’t noticeable in terms of level of play and required a great goal by Lambourn with six minutes remaining to take the game into extra time. Ardington had failed to clear their lines from a Lambourn throw, resulting in Rowbottom collecting the ball 20 yards out. He pushed the ball to the right and fired a low powerful shot past the outstretched hand of Burt. The delight and relief on Lambourn players both on and off the pitch was clear to see.



Extra time saw very little in terms of scoring chances except for the one meaningful attack that settled the match in Lambourn’s favour. With two minutes of the first period remaining Rowbottom thumped a long ball forward to Sam Connors running down the right hand flank. Ardington defenders were slow to react as he cut inside and fired a powerful shot on the run past Burt to win the game, again instigating scenes of much joy from the Lambourn contingent. With little else of note occurring in the game Lambourn held on to progress gratefully to the semi finals.

Thursday 10 February 2011

New Signings!

First team manager Rob Clarke has moved quickly to sign two new faces after the clubs recent spate of injuries. Young striker Patrick Maye has been joined by former Wroughton ulility man Stuart Temple.

Both players have been added to the squad for Saturday's cup game against Ardington.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Players injured!

Bad news has hit both squads ahead of this weekend's fixture's with Livings(Broken rib) A Mooney (Bruised foot) M Hendren (Groin) joining Matthews, Bone, Harkness & M Annetts on the treatment table. With a few other players not available for different reasons the first team management are looking to bring in a couple of new faces before Saturday. More details to follow soon.

Monday 7 February 2011

Drayton 1-4 Lambourn

Startin line up: Annetts, Griffin, Rowbottom, A Hendren, Pleass, Goodey, Livings, Fisher, Langfrey,A Mooney, Joyce. Subs: Connors, M Hendren & Prior.

Lambourn made the trip to Drayton looking to keep the pressure on Saxton & Wootton at the top of the table as they hunt promotion to the Hellenic League. With Wootton playing Saxton on the same day 3 points were vital for the boys from the valley. Lambourn were playng into a strong wind in the opening half and this might of contributed to the slow start they made. Struggling to put the passes together on a bobbly pitch made the opening 15 minutes very scrappy. Lambourn finally started to get going and it was the away side who created the opening chance a clever pass from Mooney released Joyce but not for the first time this season the hard working striker failed to find the target. His work rate must soon start to be rewarded with goals. This sparked Lambourn into life & they started to move the ball much quicker. Fisher and Livings took control of the midfield battle and this allowed Langfrey & Goodey the space and freedom to attack the Drayton back line. Goodey went passed the Drayton right back with ease to create the opening goal, A driven low cross was struck first time by the on rushing Fisher from 8 yards into the bottom corner. Lambourn were two up seconds later as Joyce stole the ball straight from the kick off Mooney took up possession and a clever chip and well timed run allowed Livings the time and space in the box to slot home.
Lambourn were now looking a threat with every attack & it wasn't long before they increased the lead. Langfrey's deep cross was picked up on the left by top scorer Mooney and the gifted striker spotted the keeper off his line and scored his 11th goal of the season with a clever chip. Annetts in goal seemed like his biggest problem was keeping his cigar lit in the gale force head wind. Lambourn went in at half time
3-0 up and with the wind behind them in the second half it look like the job was almost done.
The second half started much the same as the first as Lambourn took their foot off the pedal and allowed Drayton to get some more possession without really troubling a back four being well marshalled by Rowbottom. However it was Drayton who would strike next as a neat passing  move allowed the Drayton striker the space to hit an unstoppable strike past the diving Annetts. Lambourn were still not passing the ball as they did in the first half so the management decided to ring the changes. Connor's, M Hendren & Prior replaced Livings, Mooney & Griffin for the fianl half hour. It was Connor's who took the chance to shine the brighest of the replacements some great touches and non stop work rate were capped off with a fine solo goal, Collecting the ball on the left he twisted and turned away from 3 Drayton defenders before hitting a great strike. The young striker showing the first team management that he can make the step up from the res this season. The game was over as a contest & the final minutes played out that way. With the news that Saxton had taken away Wootton's unbeaten record the 3 points have made the title race now wide open.

MOM Fisher.

The first team travel to Ardington in the cup this weekend looking for a place in the semi's.