The Road to the Hellenic League is Paved with Goodish Tensions

Programme Cover

Hopperational details

Friday 10 September 2010, Witney United 1 Kidlington 2 in the Hellenic Premier League (Step 5) at the Marriott’s Stadium (which was more interestingly known recently as the Polythene UK Stadium, apparently).

This match in one sentence

Kidlington held on to a deserved lead despite a late Witney fightback leading to a controversial penalty and a feisty finish.

So what?

Witney United have excellent facilities for a Step 5 club but they are unlikely to see Step 4 anytime soon unless results improve.  They were thumped 8-2 by Shortwood United in their previous league game.  Kidlington, on the other hand, start the week in 2nd position in the league.

Who caught the eye on the pitch?

Jack Quainton (Kidlington) had the speed to catch up with a through ball and the composure to finish for the game’s opening goal.  It set the tone for the match and the result was not in doubt until the final frantic few minutes.

This match had the same effect on my pulse rate as …

… not having finished a Super Fiendish sudoku after twenty minutes whilst at the same time listening to a Carlos Santana guitar solo.

A snippet from the programme

The excellent programme was dedicated in memory of Callum MacKinnon.  Callum (18) had only recently left Witney for Cirencester Town after three promising seasons of youth and reserve football.  He was killed in a car accident earlier in the week.  The crowd delivered a dignified minute of applause before the game in recognition of this very sad and tragic event.

What I learned today

The name of Witney derives from the Saxon word witan that meant council to the King. The town has been famous for woollen blankets since the Middle Ages, which means that the opening section of their programme is entitled Blanket Coverage.  I like that. I like that a lot.

Modus Hopper Random Talking Point

About six Kidlington players ran towards the referee as he awarded the late penalty, in effect forcing him backwards.  It looked to me like at least one made physical contact (though to be fair I can’t be sure).  The ‘keeper was then booked for gamesmanship before the spotkick was tucked away superbly.  Respect, anyone?