Starting Line Up: Clough, Dart, K Willmoth, Bone, Pleass, Livings, C Willmoth, Griffin, Hendren, Jones & Matthews. Subs Joyce, Langfrey Temple & Mcnally.
With Injuries to club captain Adrian Mooney ( Foot ) & midfield general Chris Prior (shin gash) that looks to have ruled the pair out for the season the management team have managed to secure the services of Newbury Town duo Callum Willmoth & Darren Jones for the remainder of the season.
Didcot arrived at Bockhampton Road with there eyes on the title after they lost out to Chalfont wasps in the Berks and Bucks Int cup final & suffered a shock defeat in the North Berks Cup semi final to Div 4 leaders Berinsfield. It now seems Lambourn could leave them without a trophy in a season that had seen them chasing a quadruple only 3 weeks ago.
The game started with a few nervous moments as both sides knew the importance of victory but it was the home side that started to play the football and soon settled into there passing game. Matthew's & Jones showing some good hold up and play and great strength against a aggressive Didcot back line. It seemed only a matter of time before they opened the scoring. A through ball from Jones released powerful winger Living's his first time strike from a tight angle was cleared off the line as Didcot were struggling to stay with Lambourn's one touch passing. With Bone superbly marshalling a back four that never looked troubled despite having to endure some rough house tactics from a power house Didcot number 10 that on anther day could of seem him receive 2 red cards for his use of the elbow on Pleass in the opening 20 minutes.
With the half hour approaching Lambourn really started to turn up the pressure, Griffin snapping into tackles giving C Willmoth the time and space to pick his passes. The two were both involved in the opening goal as some fine one touch slick passing unlocked the Didcot back line, As C Willmoth burst through a clumsy last ditch tackle from behind sent the energetic midfielder crashing to the turf in the box a certain penalty. The ref took a few seconds to decide but in the end made the correct call and pointed to the spot. Up stepped penalty king Griffin with 5 out of 6 pens already converted this season he looked confident even with the massive pressure. A well struck penalty sending the keeper the wrong way gave Lambourn the lead they craved & that there play had deserved. Lambourn continued to control the football keeping possession for long spells and frustrating a normally dominant Didcot side. Didcot did create one chance before the break but Clough shut the angle to the on rushing striker and smothered the ball at his feet before he had the chance to get a strike away.
Some harsh words were heard coming from the Didcot management at half time but Lambourn could be happy with there work so far & the management would of been looking for more of the same. They did make a change at half time as they withdrew M Hendren not one of his better performances and replaced him with speedy winger Langfrey.
Didcot came out for the second half even more aggressive than in the first but with a much more direct approach. They were now hitting long balls and trying to release the pace they had up front but with Lambourn back four in fine form this tactic didn't seem to overly trouble them either. With Lambourn needing to move the ball qucker as Didcot worked hard to press them in possession. Griffin, livings, Langfrey and C Willmoth all very sharp on the ball to resist the pressure being put on them. Lambourn looked like they would extend there lead, Matthew's going close with a half volley & K Willmoth striking just wide. On the hour mark a moment arrived that was good enough to win any game. Striker Jones picked up the ball some 35 yards from goal he ghosted past two tackles before striking the ball from 25 yards straight into the top right hand corner. The keeper didn't have the chance to move before the ball had hit the net. Wild celebrations followed as the striker found himself buried underneath a pile of Lambourn bodies.Lambourn were now flying forward and after a foul on Jones C Willmoth delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post Livings arrived and seemed certain to score only to miss a header from only a yard out. Matthew's was replaced by Joyce & the centre forward was given a chance with almost his first touch, Livings going past the full back and driving the ball across the six yard box, Joyce seemed certain to score but mistimed his strike and produce an air strike. A chance that came to soon after coming off the bench the only reason to explain the miss.
This was the wake up call Didcot needed and they turned the game on it's head for the last 15 minutes. The direct approach now seeming to push Lambourn back. Didcot kept loading balls into the box and after a clearing header went for a corner Didcot grabbed a lifeline. A short corner was then delivered to the back post and vollyed powerfully home from 8 yards. For the closing 10 minutes Didcot piled on the pressure crosses were coming from all angles and Clough and the back four had to stand firm winning header after header. Some fantastic defending that shows that not only can they play the free flowing football they can handle the ugly side of the game when required against a powerful side that have claimed the scalps of several higher league sides in the Berks & Bucks this season.
A real test of the sides character that they managed to come through proving they have the mental toughness to maitain the title push a secure promotion to the Hellenic league.
MOM Griffin.
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