Another Title in the Royal County of Berkshire

Saxton Rovers are 200m from the River Thames in Abingdon

 

Hopperational details
Date & Venue: Sat 14 May 2011 at Caldecott Road Recreation Ground
Result: Saxton Rovers 1 Lambourn Sports 2
Competition: North Berkshire League Division 1 (Step 7)
Hopping: #401 on the lifetime list


This match in one sentence
Lambourn Sports, despite wasting a host of first-half chances, eventually beat the most serious of two mathematically remaining rivals to take a big step towards the league title.


So what?
It will take three massive wins for Didcot Casuals and a big loss for Lambourn Sports in remaining games for the former to pinch the title, and frankly, there is no realistic chance of this.  Lambourn Sports need only a point in their last fixture against Harwell Village next Saturday but even this will not be needed if Didcot Casuals fail to win their midweek game.


The drama unfolds 
After an even opening spell, Lambourn Sports took the lead with a neat move after 20 minutes.  A ball down the line from right full-back was controlled and crossed, and a looping header was placed well to give the keeper no chance.  0-1


Saxton Rovers nearly equalised immediately, the ball shaving the post as they immediately pushed forward, but there then followed a whole series of misses by the visitors.  The game ought to have been dead and buried in the first half but, incredibly, there was no more scoring before the whistle.  0-1 at half-time

Cleared off the line ...

Missed ...

Missed again ...

Here are a couple of clips from late in the first half.








A draw was no good at all for Saxton Rovers and they had to push forward.  They needed some assistance from a somewhat eccentric decision by the referee, who gave a penalty when their winger was bundled over in the area.  Actually, I am being kind - rewind.  The referee was completely conned when the winger, running away from goal, went down as if shot under the tiniest of defensive challenges.  Shocker of a decision, but the penalty was despatched in a tide-turning moment.  1-1

The game suddenly became open as Saxton searched for the essential winner.  However, it was Lambourn who scored again with just a few minutes to go.  A neat move down the right led to the striker holding the ball up well in the area before laying it off to a teammate who scored to trigger great celebration.  Final score 1-2


Alternative activity of equal excitement for tourists in Abingdon
There is a collection of varnished buns in the town museum that date from the 19th century.  They were thrown from the roof on special occasions for crowds below, and this ceremony still occurs today and last happened at the recent Royal Wedding.  No, I have not been drinking.  No, I did not make that up.  My American readers will love this stuff, especially as they may misconstrue the meaning of buns.


Something random

Abingdon is within range of the M40 Red Kites and two of them were in the vicinity throughout the game, sometimes just above the rooftops of Saxton Road.

The distinctive V-shaped tail of the red kite

What Next?
Prestatyn Town v Port Talbot Town in the Welsh Premier Play-Off Semi-Final tomorrow with the chance of a Europa League Place at stake.