Sport Italia Hellenic Premier Division
Thursday 24th April
Kidlington 1 Shortwood United 0

After Tuesday's excellent win against Shrivenham, Kidlington followed it up with another good performance and a much easier win than the 1 - 0 score line suggests. The first half was a pretty even affair, but with Kidlington having the better of the chances I felt they should have been in front at the break.
The first real chance of the match fell to Kidlington player/ coach Matty Hayward. Hayward received the ball on the edge of the box after a corner had been defended by the visitors. He steadied himself but shot over the bar. On 16 minutes Big Jimmy Deabill had more time than he thought from a ball in from Morgan Williams. Deabill hurried his header and the ball was dropping wide. Nathan Meade nipped in on the blind side but from an acute angle he only managed to blast the ball into the side netting. Just after the half hour James Philpott saw a headed attempt from a Mark Baker corner fielded on the line by Shortwood keeper Martin Pearce. A minute later and Kidlington keeper Matty Hutton was called into action, he dived full length and clung onto a shot from Will Steadman. As the half progressed Kidlington were awarded a free kick some 25 yards from goal. Baker took it and smashed a shot which passed just wide of the near post. Just before the interval Morgan Williams hit a screamer of a shot from about 30 yards out. Pearce was forced into making a terrific save to keep the ball out.
H.T. 0 – 0.
As the second half got underway it was Kidlington doing all the pressing. Deabill muscled his way past Steadman in the 47th minute and ran in on goal, Pearce rushed out to narrow the angle but Deabill saw this and shot, Pearce got a hand onto it but the ball fell to Mark Baker who slotted home from close range, for 1 – 0 to Kiddy. Mark Baker then created a chance for Deabill. After some trickery on the left flank Baker crossed for his strike partner, who only just failed to convert it as he stretched but couldn’t get enough on his header. In the 57th minute Hayward was really unlucky to see a powerful header from a Williams’s corner headed off the line. The game was all one way now and it looked only a matter of time before Kidlington added to the score. In the 69th minute Williams crossed superbly for Baker. Baker dived at it but headed across goal and wide of the far post. Meade then caused utter confusion in the Shortwood defence with an excellent ball into the box, Shortwood’s Peter Smith caught in two minds trying to defend it hammered the ball against his own post with Pearce rooted to the spot. Fortunately for the visitors it cannoned away to safety. The next action saw a stone wall penalty shout turned down by referee Daniel Tomkins. Baker got goal side of his defender and as he was about to shoot when he was pushed in the back and went head over heals. It was an obvious penalty but for some reason Tompkins didn’t give it. Kidlington have been so unlucky with these sorts of incidents all season and again I am sure if they were added up we would have 5 or 6 more points than we have. Late on a Deabill shot was well saved by Pearce and up the other end a long throw was flicked on by Shortwood substitute Luke Bennyworth and Hutton had to be alert to come out and claim it. The last couple of minutes were a bit tense as Shortwood pushed on for a late equalizer but to be honest the way Kidlington’s defence had performed all evening a goal for the visitors looked unlikely. Tomkins blew up for time and Kidlington had their second win of the week. Everyone is now looking forward to the last match of the season against Carterton this Saturday.

Team: - HUTTON, CLARE, PHILPOTT, GABBIDON, HULBERT-THOMAS, HAYWARD, MEADE, THOMAS, DEABILL, BAKER & WILLIAMS.
SUBS: - DOYLE, HARRIS & WHITEMAN, (dnp)
Written by Simon Dickens


Sport Italia Hellenic Premier Division
Tuesday 22nd April
Kidlington 4 Shrivenham 2

Kidlington recaptured their missing form during this match after several below par league performances. Kidlington turned this match around in some style. After going two goals down within the first 11 minutes I thought “oh no here we go again” but after this Kidlington seemed to find their rhythm and gradually clawed their way back into the match.
The visitors attacked the ‘Canal End’ in the first half and were soon into full stride. In the 3 rd minute a couple of passes caught the home defence flat footed and put Shrivie striker Paul Sanders in on goal. Sanders raced into the box and blasted the ball past Matty Hutton for 1 – 0. It was all Shrivenham in these opening encounters and only a brilliant save from Hutton in the 6th minute prevented Tom Fila making 2 - 0. Kidlington at this stage again looked nervous in all departments and when an attempted clearance ricoched off Sanders the tricky striker was onto in a flash. Sanders controlled it, calmly rounded Hutton and slotted the ball home for 2 – 0 in only the 11th minute. It was time now for Kidlington to show some spirit and fight or take a real hammering. To Kidlington’s players credit to a man they began to rise to the challenge. In the 20th minute a shot from Mark Baker was saved well by visiting keeper James Domm. On the half hour a high ball into the box from Tai Hulbert-Thomas caused confusion and if Big Jimmy Deabill could have got anything on it I think he would have scored. In the 40th minute Mark Baker was set free by a flick on from Deabill. Baker raced into the box but pulled his shot wide as Domm came out to narrow the angle. Kidlington were now the team on top and got their reward right on half time. Mark Baker chased a ball forward which the defender looked favourite to win. Baker closed him down and took possession of the ball. He then saw Domm was off his line and chipped the ball perfectly over him and into the net for 2 – 1. Kidlington really deserved this goal and you could visibly see the confidence returning to all the players.
H.T. 1 – 2.
As the second period got underway is was Kidlington all the way. The home side were really up for it now and Shrivenham’s defence were doing well to repel the constant attacks. Deabill was denied by another save from Domm then in the 57th minute Kidlington won a penalty. Morgan Williams was fed the ball by Deabill on the left. Williams sprinted into the box where a last gasp tackle from the last defender took his legs clean away. Referee Wicks was in close proximity and pointed to the spot. Mark Baker took it and hammered it to Domm’s left and into the net for 2 – 2. Kidlington were now on fire and only 2 minutes later took the lead. Baker saw Williams again in space on the left and played the perfect ball into him. Morgan Williams took it in his stride and blasted the ball home for 3 – 2. Kidlington during this period of play were irrepressible. In the 62nd minute Kiddy were awarded a free kick about 10 yards outside the box on the right hand side of the pitch. Morgan Williams took it and fired the ball across goal and in off the far post to give Kidlington a 4 – 2 lead and one which they richly deserved. Further chances fell to Baker and Lee Bolton after this but neither could find the target. Shrivenham never a side to give up and lay down rallied late on. A shot from Jon Peters was acrobatically saved by Matt Hutton and from the resultant corner hutton did well to turn a deflected shot over the bar. Next Kiddy’s Denel Thomas fed Baker on the edge of the visitor’s box. Baker beat his man but Domm saved his shot well. After this Deshawn Whiteman replaced Baker. Whiteman’s first contribution was to put Deabill in on goal. Deabill on the run could not beat keeper Domm and the ball went out for a corner. With only a few minutes remaining Peters made a meal of a challenge in the box and Mr Wicks again pointed to the spot. Terry Bohane took it and as Matty Hutton stood large in his goal Bohane sliced his shot wide. Kidlington fought back brilliantly and this was certainly their best display for quite some time. Well done to all the players the real KFC were back tonight!

Team: - HUTTON, McGOVERN, PHILPOTT, GABBIDON, HULBERT-THOMAS, CLARE, BOLTON, THOMAS, DEABILL, BAKER & WILLIAMS.
SUBS: - WHITEMAN (Played) HEYWARD (dnp)

Written by Simon Dickens




Sport Italia Hellenic Premier Division
Saturday 19th April
Kidlington 0 Wantage Town 1

I felt this was Kidlington’s worse display of the season. I really don’t think that any of the outfield players can hold up their hand and say that they thought they were good enough this afternoon. This doesn’t include Young Matt Hutton in goal as he did his job well and could do nothing about the only goal scored in the match. All in all this was a poor end of season match with both sides appearing just to be going through the motions.
Kidlington kicked toward the canal end in the first half with a slight wind at their backs. From the start of this match there appeared to be little or no urgency about both teams play, and it was not until around the half hour mark that either team had a real attempt on goal. This attempt was from Wantage’s Paul Day. Ellis Langford put a ball into the middle where Day controlled it before shooting for goal. Hutton had it covered though and palmed the ball round the post for corner. The Most uncharacteristic part of Kidlington's play was that they managed to win three corner kicks of their own during this first half. Mark Baker who has been excellent from these dead ball situations all season and our regular corner taker took them and put all three of them straight out of play. Kidlington were looking totally inept up front in this period even with Big Jimmy Deabill joining the action mid-way through, to partner Baker after injury to Jefferson Harriott. The half ended with Kidlington not having testing Town’s keeper Luke Alford and Wantage only managing that Paul Day effort.
H.T. 0 – 0.
As the second period got underway the general game play from both teams had not improved. The ball was far too often lost to easily in mid-field and I also lost count of the number of miss-placed passes. Kidlington were caught out big time for Wantage’s goal. A long ball over the top of the Kidlington defence saw Captain James Philpott challenge for the ball. It appeared that Phillpot had been fouled and the Kidlington players appealed for such. However Wantage’s Gary Hartley had other ideas and put a ball over the top for Tom Austin to run onto. Match Referee Jason Lyon allowed play to continue and Austin unchallenged ran in on Hutton’s goal. As the keeper came out to narrow the angle Austin cleverly chipped the ball over him and into the net for 1 – 0 to the visitors in the 55th minute. Kidlington were a goal down and the way they were playing today you wondered how they would respond. Unfortunately on the day after playing so much football lately they appeared to have little or nothing in their tanks to make them able to respond.
Kidlington were awarded a couple of deep free kicks in dangerous areas, but from these taken firstly by Doyle and then Baker keeper Alford was able to field them after both struck particularly weak efforts. The game petered out in the last 10 minutes or so as Wantage were more than happy to keep the 1 – 0 lead and Kidlington seemed happy just to get back off the park and re-group for the match against Shrivenham on Tuesday evening again here at Yarnton Road. All in all this entire match was one to forget and move on. The fact is that Kidlington still haven’t won a single League match at home since Christmas, question is with three more games to go here next week will we be able to break this hoodoo?

Team: - HUTTON, McGOVERN, PHILPOTT, MEADE, HULBERT-THOMAS, CLARE, DOYLE, THOMAS, GABBIDON, BAKER & HERRIOTT.
SUBS: - DEABILL, BOLTON& HARRIS (All Played)




Sport Italia Hellenic League Premier Division

Wednesday 16th April 2008

Kidlington 0 Fairford Town 0

This was a strange match, mainly because Kidlington were basically dominant throughout and created so many chances I lost count. However, some how they failed to convert any of them. Matt Hutton in the Kiddy goal was basically a bystander as Fairford didn’t manage one shot on target during the entire evening.
After just 7 minutes Jefferson Harriott had a excellent chance, however he seemed to lose control of the ball just before he struck for goal. In the 15th minute Mark Baker had a golden opportunity. Baker outpaced the Fairford defence and as he cut in he shot but the ball went wide of the far post. In the 24th minute a Baker free kick deceived the visitor’s keeper Rob Padget with dipping cross. Padget flapped at it at the far post and the ball fell to James Philpot. Philpott reacted quickly and flicked the ball back inside. Here it hit the near post and then bounced across goal. Big Jimmy Deabill saw his follow up shot deflected across goal and onto the far post by Fairford’s Chris Nichols before the danger was cleared. Just after this incident a shot from Denel Thomas from the edge of the box whistled just wide with Padget beaten. In the 35th minute Deabill muscled his way through the Fairford defence which left him one on one with Padget. Padget stood tall and Deabill’s shot was straight at him. Another chance for Kidlington went begging when baker and Deabill combined with the latter heading wide at the far post. Although Kidlington had produced numerous goal scoring opportunities in this first half their general game play had been extremely scrappy with lots of misplaced passes and the play was also littered with with miss-kicks and silly mistakes.
H.T. 0 – 0.
In the second half Kidlington were even more dominant than the first. As the game went on chance after chance fell to home side. Fairford’s defenders battled for their lives as they repelled attack after attack. In the 52 minute Baker was through on goal. The stealth like striker attempted to chip Padget but got it horribly wrong and the ball flew out of play wide of the goal. From a Baker corner kick Deabill headed the ball back across goal where Denel Thomas with the goal at his mercy from only a couple of yards out headed it against the bar and over. The addition of Morgan Williams for Harriott in the 72 minute added some much needed impetus. Williams was soon in the thick of the action creating a chance for Nathan Meade. Meade’s shot travelled just over the bar with Padget scampering across his goal. Deabill then flicked a ball into the path of Baker. Baker's shot was well saved by Padget. In the 84th minute Deabill and Padget collided in the goal area and both were on the floor as the ball fell to Williams some 12 yards out. This looked a certain goal but Williams lashed at it and his shot in the end went well wide. Unfortunately this last passage of play summed up the night for Kidlington. So near but yet so far. On another day maybe Kidlington would have won by a cricket score, but as I have penned before, if you don’t take your chances you don’t win games. Fairford’s position of 3rd from bottom was not improved by the point they gained although I am sure they gave the match all they had. For Kidlington this was unfortunately another winless performance from them in the league. Still roll on Saturday when we take on Wantage Town.


Team: - HUTTON, CLARE, HULBERT-THOMAS, PHILPOTT, McGOVERN, THOMAS, BOLTON, HARRIOTT, DEABILL, BAKER & MEADE.
SUBS: - WILLIAMS, DOYLE (Played) & HARRIS (DNP).
Written by Simon Dickens



HPL Hellenic Floodlit Trophy Final 2nd leg
Thursday 10th April

Ardley United 2 Kidlington 3 (Agg 7 – 3)

Kidlington win the HPL Floodlit Trophy

It was a glorious night for everyone concerned with Kidlington Football Club after the team recorded another superb victory in the second leg of this final. Things really couldn’t have started any better than they did with Mark Baker putting Kidlington in front after only 4 minutes. Baker converted a penalty kick after Morgan Williams had been brought down in the box.
Kidlington kicked down the infamous slope at Ardley in the first period and immediately started to apply pressure on the home defence. Baker had a shot saved in the first couple of minutes by home keeper Matt Dixon. Morgan Williams then picked up the ball in mid-field and charged forward, he was too quick for Kidlington old boy Danny Mason and as he skipped past him Mason brought him down. Match referee Mr Hey had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for this offence. Mark Baker placed the ball and lashed it into the net giving Dixon no chance of even getting close to it. The next 15 minutes or so saw Kidlington in total command and Dixon was called into action on several other occasions. Ardley’s first real chance of note came in the 22nd minute. Jason Costella made the best of an opportunity to create a half chance for himself. His shot was saved low down at the near post by Kiddy keeper Steve Benbow. In the 25th minute a thunderbolt of a shot from Williams whistled just wide of Dixon’s goal with the keeper well beaten. Ardley’s Leon Gordon had a shot from 25 yards out after 32 minutes, but Benbow was able to watch his shot fly over the bar. Ardley found an equalizer in the 36th minute. A ball over Kidlington’s defence was missed and Jason Costella raced onto it and hammered a shot across Benbow and into the roof of the net for 1 - 1. Ardley’s celebrations were cut short when Morgan Williams restored Kidlington’s lead almost immediately. Williams hammered home a cut back from Big Jimmy Deabill for a quality goal. Just before the break Denel Thomas was denied by Dixon, who dived full length to turn Thomas’ rasping drive round the post.
H.T. 2 – 1.
Ardley made a change at half time taking off a defender and adding another attacker in a last ditch attempt to get back into the match. The hosts tried to push Kidlington on to the back foot but to be honest they weren’t able to do it as Kidlington always remained in the ascendancy. James Philpott made an excellent block at the back to prevent Chris Hill getting past him in the 54th minute and Kidlington were always looking the more lightly to add to the goals scored total and this proved correct in the 65th minute. Jimmy Deabill controlled a ball played over Mason’s head on his chest before slotting the ball home past Dixon for 3 – 1. It was now 7 – 2 to Kidlington and it really was game over, however to Ardley’s credit they never gave up and were awarded, in my opinion quite fortuitously a penalty in the 70th minute. A shot was allegedly handled by Emmett McGovern in the box and a spot kick awarded, whether it was or whether it wasn’t doesn’t really matter now as it didn’t effect the result. Danny Mason took it and Benbow just failed to save it as the ball went under him. Dixon excelled himself in the Ardley goal in the 81st minute when he saved a point blank header from Deabill. The last action of this final came when Baker picked up a ball just outside the box after Dixon and his defender had made a hash of a clearance. Baker lobbed the ball back over them and was really unlucky to see the ball bounce up onto the cross bar and then the ball cleared away up field. Mr Hey brought the match to an end soon after this and Kidlington were able to start celebrating their first major honour for many a year. To a man over the two legs Kidlington had been far the better side and this was reflected in the final aggregate score of 7 – 3. All we can do now is hope that this is the start of a successful period for the Club as with the basis of this squad who knows what can be achieved by Paul Lee and his team.


Team :- BENBOW, BOLTON, MEADE, CLARE, PHILPOTT, HAYWARD, McGOVERN, THOMAS, DEABILL, BAKER & WILLIAMS.
SUBS: - GABBIDON, HULBERT-THOMAS & BURTON (all played).
Written by Simon Dickens